Oddfellowship.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 23, 11 September 1897, Page 5

Oddfellowship.

INVERCARGILL DISTRICT, 1.0.0 ; F., M.U. The half-yearly meeting was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Winton, on Wednesday ■evening, and was attended by the P.G.M. Bro. John Ward, presiding; Deputy G.M. Bro. J. S. A. McDougall ; Bro. E. D. Bust, I P.P.G.M. ; Prov.. Treasurer, P.P.G.M. Bro. T. Findlay; P.C.S., P.P.G.M. Bro. M. Mair, and the followiug delegates : Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge, Invercargill : P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Smith, P.G.’s Bros. R. Miller ana S. Rabbidge, and TST.G. Bro. F. Borne. „ Tjr St. George Lodge t Invercargill : P.P.G.M. Bro. D. McDermid, and P.G.’s Bros. J. Cox and A. Todd. United Gore Lodge : P.G.’s Bros. D. McFarlane and J. R. Stevens. Lumsden Lodge : P.G.’s Bros. A, Small A. McAlister. , Winton Lodge : Per. Secretary, Bro. F. A. Cole. Awarua Lodge : P.G.’s Bros. J, W. Jvmg and J. T. Long. Riversdale Lodge : P. G. Bro. J. Smaill. A number of members of the Winton Lodge, some of whom had come a considerable distance, were also in attendance. Grand Master’s Address. Worthy Deputy Grand Master and Brethren, —A good many years have elapsed «inco the last District Meeting was held here, and I am sure you are all pleased to see the progress that has been made since then, not only in Winton itself, but in the closely settled district of which it forms the centre. "You will also be glad to learn that the Winton Lodge, in common with the others included in the Invercargill District, has a satisfactory record for the last half-year. Owing to a variety of causes the District Officers have not yet been able to visit any of the lodges, but a perusal of the balance-sheets warrants the statement just made. The officers hope to he able to visit all the lodges in rotation at an early date. It should be added that P.P.G.M. Bro. Findlay and myself attended the anniversary of the Lumsden Lodge, and received a right hearty welcome. Coming to financial matters, I find that on 31st December, 1896, the sick and funeral funds of the seven lodges forming the district stood at £14,480 13s s£d ; and on 30th June, 1897, they amounted to £14,934 lls 7d, showing a gross increase for the halfyear of £453 18s 1-jd, or, deducting a loss of £2 3s 2d in the case of the Riversdale Lodge, which has had a comparatively heavy sickness experience, a net gain of £453 18s IJd. With regard to the management fund, the position may be summarised as follows: At 31st December, 1896, six lodges had a gross credit of £2lB 6s 7d, and one lodge a debit balance of £52 3s 2£d. At 30th June last, six lodges showed a gross credit of £197 18a and one lodge a debit of £53 18s Bd, but as one of the lodges borrowed £lO from the sick and funeral fund, that amount should also be deducted, which would leave a net credit of £lB7 18s; or, in other words, a loss for the six months of £27 6s Three of the lodges have relief funds. At the beginning of the year these totalled £63 10s. During the half-year ended 30fch June there was only an increase in the case cf the Lumsden Lodge, and after allowing for this there was a net loss of £5 6s. In addition to the above funds, the Shamrock, Rose and Thistle Lodge has a surplus fund, divided into two accounts. The first of these is the capital account, which stood at 31st December, 1896, with a credit balance of £1279 2s lid. During the six months ended 30th June £66 15s 9d was paid to members entitled to the same under the scheme of distribution, namely, all who have reached the age of 60 years leaving a credit balance at 30th June of £1212 7s 2d. The second account—the interest and secession or incidental account —had a credit balance at the end of December of £2O Is 7d, and this remained unaltered at 30th June last. At the beginning of 1897 the District numbered 666 members—at the ©nd of June thfe figures were 676, showing a gain for the half-year of ten members. In addition to the seven adult lodges, there are three juvenile branches of the Order in connection with the Invercargill and Gore and Awarua Lodges. Our youthful brethren are doing well, and all interested m the well-being of Oddfellowship are deeply indebted to those members of the adult lodges who give their services freely and ungrudgingly to assist the youug people. The value of juvenile branches as feeders of the senior lodges is demonstrated by the fact that out of 173,985 juveniles enrolled during the last 12 years, 0ver55,000 passed into the adult lodges. At the meeting in March the question of the adjustment of rates of contribution was discussed and ordered to be held over for a year. Since then letters on the subject have ■ been addressed to all the other Districts in the colony, and several of these have replied, and forwarded the tables under which they are working The question of a superannuation scheme was also postponed till after the meeting of Parliament, and as you know this, owing to the visit of the Premier to Britain, has not yet assembled. A census has, however, been taken ot the number of people who would be entitled to pensions, and Parliament will thus be placed in possession of the probable cost of the new departure in social legislation. Although it is proverbially unsafe to prophesy, it is scarcely likely tbatthe tortb.

coming session will witness. the adoption of a workable old age pension system. The question has, however, come into the region of practical politics; and its discussion will doubtless lead to definite results in the near future. It is worthy of note that this is also the question of the hour in Australia and at Home. Two leading members of our Order in England were among the witnesses examined before the Parliamentary Committee appointed to take evidence on the subject, and one of them stated that at present there were about 26,000 Oddfellows over the age of 65 years, and who would consequently be entitled to pensions in the event of these being established. The quest ion of State aid to friendly societies is also involved, and in a meas ure the relations of capital ana labour, for it has been argued by the opponents of old age pensions that their recipients would be content to accept less wages if assured of a stated sum when past work, in which case the capitalist and not the class intended would benefit. In May last the Annual Movable Committee of the Manchester Unity held its session at Douglas in the Isle of Man. The meeting was a record one in point of attendance, there being 615 delegates present, including one from distant New Zealand, in the person of Bro Griffiths of the Lyttelton Lodge. The business included the adoption of a congratulatory message to Her Majesty tbe Queen, which we are told was agreed to “ with one unanimous shout of accord.” The question may be asked— How has our Order fared during the last sixty years? When Her Majesty ascended the throne in 1837 the Manchester Unity bad 80,000 members. When the Grand Master despatched his message in May last he did so in the name of a Society with over 900,000 members, and a capital exceeding nine millions sterling. When, it is added that in 1895—the latest period to which the financial returns have been tabulated—the contributions received amounted to £1,542,848, and the disbursements to £1,235,213, some idea can be formed of the place occupied by the Manchester Unity in the great sisterhood of friendly societies, which have done such good service in the cause of humanity, and have enabled thousands, in times of sickness and distress, to realise what has been aptly teimed “ the glorious privilege of being independent” In conclusion I have to thank my brother officers for their kindly consideration, and one and all for a patient hearing. The Grand Master was thanked for his address, and it was ordered to be included in the report of the proceedings. Minutes. The minutes of the meetings of the District Officers were read and confirmed. Balance-Sheets. The Examining Committee certified the correctness of the lodge balance-sheets, but at the same time expressed the opinion that they should embody all the details set forth in the printed forms, which had not been done in the cases of the Gore and Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodges —lt was resolved, on the motion of Bro Smith, that when forwarding balance-sheets to the District, lodges be requested to give all the particulars specified in the forms, and in addition thereto show the actual cash balance of each fund. Nominations. Written nominations of candidates for the District chairs were received from six of the lodges. The Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge nominated P.G.’s A. Carnahan, J. S. Goldie, R. Tooley, A. Garmson, W. L. McLean, R. Miller, and T. Watson for the offices of G.M and D.G.M.; the Lumsden lodge nominated P.G. Bro A. Small; the Awarua lodge proposed D.G.M. Bro J. S, A. McDougall ; the St. George Lodge also nominated that brother as' G.M., and P.G. Bro Cox for the D G. M. chair; P.G. Bro MoFarlane was nominated for D.G M. by the Gore Lodge ; and P.G. Bro J. Campbell as D.G.M. by the Winton Lodge, Levies. The District Officers recommended that the levies be—Sick and Funeral, 2s; Management. Is 6d. The adoption of the recommendation having been moved, Bro Smith pointed out that according to the rules the expenses of delegates should be paid out of a special fund raised for that purpose, and should be shown in a separate account. He suggested that the management fund should be divided to allow of this being done, but it was pointed out that, as the expenses varied, it would be difficult to fix a stated sum, aud eventually it was resolved, on the motion of Bro Cox, seconded by Bro King, that the levies, as fixed by the District, he adapted, and that the amount of the expenses of delegates be shown in a separate account for tbe current year, as required- by the rules. Salary. The salary of the C.S- for the half-year was passed. District Meetings. Bro Cox moved that the next District Meeting be held at Invercargill.—Seconded by Bro Todd and agreed to. Bro Smith moved that, it be a recommendation to the District Officers to consider the advisability of holding the meetings yearly instead of half-yearly, and report on the matter to the next meeting. Under the general rules foreign or colonial ledges could bold District Meetings at the periods most convenient to them, subject to the sanction of the Board of Directors. Outside their own Order the feeling and practice was in favour of yearly, and even biennial and triennial meetings.—The motion was seconded by Bro

Rabbidge, who thought the change would he a step in the right direction. Bros Todd and Borne also supported the motion, and Bro McFarlane opposed it on the ground that it would be a retrograde step! Bros McAlister, . Small, and Cole favoured the present system, the; last-named holding that the change would tell against the country lodges. —Bro Miller said the idea was that if ■ the meetings were held once a year the occasion could be made a kind of red letter day in the different places selected for the meetings, and thus bring the Order prominently before the public. Personally he did not see why the i meetings could not be held yearly,— Bro McDermid supported the existing system; with yearly meetings it would take half a life-time to give each lodge a turn. — Bro Smaill opposed the motion.—Bro Smith having replied, pointing out that the change would tend to the creation of a strong District Management Fund out of which lodges requiring aid could be helped, the motion was put and lost. The Handbook. It was resolved that this be issued about the middle of January instead of at the beginning of the year so as to enable the names of the officers elected at the end ol December to be inserted. The photos of the G.M. and P.P.G.M’s. Bros J. H. Smith, D. McDermid, and Boyne were ordered to be inserted in the Handbook. Presentation. I.P.P.G.M. Bro Bust was presented with a framed photo of himself in recognition of the manner in which he had filled the office of P.G.M. The Chairman, in making the presentation, bore testimony to the zeal and energy of the recipient, and to his good qualities as a man and a brother, and Bro. Bust made fitting response. Acknowledgment. At the instance of Bro. Todd, seconded by Bro McDermid, a vote of thanks was passed to the Winton Lodge in recognition of the manner in which they had received the delegates. Bro Cole acknowledged the compliment. The minutes- were read and confirmed, and the meeting closed. Degrees. A lodge of Past Grands was afterwards constituted, and a number of degrees conferred. SOCIAL The brethren afterwards adjourned to Mclnerney’s Hotel, where they were treated to a first-class repast by the Winion Lodge, whose members spared no pains to promote the pleasure of the visitors. The company numbered between 40 and 50. The P.G.M. presided, with the D,P.G.M. in the vicechair, —The toast of “ The Queen and the Manchester Unity,” given by the chairman, was enthusiastically honoured. “ The District Officers,” given by Bro. Cole, was duly acknowledged, and “ The Country Lodges,” proposed by Bro. Smith, found spokesmen in Bros Smaill, McParlane, and McAlister. Bro Taylor gave “ The Town Lodges,” and Bros Cox, Rabbidge, Borne, and Todd responded.—The chairman mentioned that the firstlodge oftheUnityin New Zealand had been opened 55 years ago, and proposed “ The Pioneers of the Order in the Colony.” Bros Lampert (who had assisted to start a lodge in Riverton in 1863) and Bro McDermid, another veteran, acknowledged the toast. “The Winton Lodge,” given by Bro T. S. Nicol, was responded to by. Bros Campbell, White, and Cole, the last-named stating that of late there had been quite a revival of interest in Oddfellowship in Winton, and that a number of new members had recently been initiated. The toast of ‘ The Past Officers,” given by the vice-chairman, was replied to by Bros Bust, Nicol, and McDermid. The remaining toasts were—“ The Ladies ” (given by Bro Creedon and acknowledged by Bro Small), “ The Press,” “ The P.G.M.,” and “ The Hostess,” an enjoyable gathering closing after two a.m. with the singing of “ Auld Lang Syne ” and the National Anthem. During the evening some capital songs were contributed by Bros Miller, J. Sanders, A. Oassel, Olsen, Cox, Todd, and Mair.