SOCIETIES' RECORD.

Saturday Advertiser, Issue 51, 1 July 1876, Page 13

S OCIETIES' RECORD.

“ Friendship, Love, and Truth.” “ Unity, Benevolence, and Concord.” “ Faith, Hope, and Charity." MASONIC. The installation of the B.W.M. and officer* of the Lodge St. Andrew, 432, S. C., took place on Monday evening at the Masonic Hall, by the P.G.M., assisted by the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge. The members of the sister lodges attended in large numbers, and the ceremony was very impressive. After the usual opening, the following office-bearers were installed for the ensuing year : —B.W.M., J”. Golder; S.W., George Kidd; J.W., Thomas Condon; Secretary, J. W. Anderson-; S.D., John Mackie; J.D., Charles Keast ; S.S., Bobert Neale; J.S., T. H. Webb ; Tyler, W. H. Meyer; Director of Music, Mr Chisholm.

FEIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL.

The delegates appointed by the leading Friendly Societies in this city to hold a Conference for the consideration of the new Friendly Societies Bill, assembled at the Oddfellows’ Hall, George-street, on last Friday evening. The following representatives were present Manchester Unity 1.0.0. F.,” P.G.M. Anderson, D.G.P.M. Leslie, and P.C.S. Sligo ; “ Ancient Order of Foresters,” D.C.8.. Asher. D.S. Woodland. and P.D.C.B. Wilson; “Independent Order of Oddfellows,” G.M. Braithwaite P.G.M. Michie. and P.G. Aldridge; “Sons of Temperance,” W.P. Carr; “Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, ’* Messrs. Bragg, J. Malcolm, and L. W. Clarke. The members of the Conference represented, altogether, 4280 members in good standing in the respective societies. -Mr Axdeksox, Grand Master of the M.U.1.0.0.F., who was voted to the chair called upon Mr A. Sligo to explain the ac-* tion which had already been taken. Mr Sligo informed the gentlemen present that a preliminary meeting had been held, and a motion carried counselling delay until the matter had been considered by the Societies to be affected by its operation. In consequence of this, a letter had been forwarded to the Hon. Dr Pollen, a copy of which was read to the meeting. The minutes of the meeting held on the 14th June were read and adopted. Mr J. moved that the Bill be considered clause by clause. Seconded and carried.

Mr Alokidge considered that the preamble of the Bill was utterly insufficient to explain the object of thejßill, and they would find that it was not an imaginary difficulty but might probably be a serious one.

The Bill was then read clause by clause. The clauses to which exception was taken were as follow :

Clause 6.—ln relation to this clause it was objected by a member that the limitation of. the amount of insurance was a serious objection. Ihe clause stated that no insurance exceeding £ls should be allowed on the tools or implements of trade of the members of a society. The Carpenters’ Society insured its members’ kitsj of tools to their full value. The member moved that the amount be raised to £IOO. It would be a very poor kit of tools indeed that wns only worth £ls.

Mr Sligo thought this was an exceptional matter, and that the carpenters should make their own representations to the Government.

It was subsequently agreed, on the motion of Mr Bbaithwaite —■“ That the matter be left to the consideration of the Trade Societies.”

Clause—, section 4.—ln respect to this section, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr~ Sligo —“ That in the opinion of this meeting the office of Bevising Barrister be left out that the llegistrar perform the duties specified in the clause ; and that the Begistrar be a barrister.”

Clause 9. section A.—ln respect to this section, Mr Bbaithwaite moved—“ That it be optional whether the usual forms of accounts be furnished or not.”

The Secretary said that the Government would consider this indicated an objection to supply reports.

An amendment having been made by the addition of the words “ with the exception of returns to the Government,” the motion was carried.

Clause 10, section 9. —This part of the Bill having been discussed, it was unanimously agreed—“ After the word ‘refusal* in the second line, to insert ‘ to the Jud°-e of the Supreme Court of the district in which the Society carries on its operations, either in Chambers or in Banco, and the decision there given shall be binding.” As the discussion lasted until midnight, the conference was adjourned until the 30th* (this evening.)