I.O.O.F.,M.U.

Southland Times, Issue 15184, 14 March 1902, Page 4

1.0.0.F.,M.U.

The annual meeting of the Southland District was held in th© Oddfellows* Hall, Ma taura, od Wednesday, The district officers present were P.G.M. Bro. D. McFarlane, who presided, D. P.G.M. Bro. R. Miller,] Prov. C.B. Bro. M. Mair, District Treasurer Bro. T. Findlay. The lodges were represented as follows : — Shamrock, Rose and Thistle : P.P.O.M. Bro. J. H. Smith, P.G.s Jas. Walker, A. Carnoch -»n and FL Porter and G.M. A. Smith; St. George: P. P.G.M. J. Stead, P.G's. L. Gardiner and A. B. Edmonds and Y_G. A. Lowrie » ' United Gore : P.P.G.M's. Jas. Boyne, John Latham and W. Bust : Winton : P.G's. B. S. Woodnorth and John Campbell ; Lumsden : P.P.G.M. A. Small, P.<". Jas. Martin and E.S. A. Macalister: Riversdale: P.G. J. Smaill ; Awarua : P.G's. C. Burtenshaw and D. Long; Mataura Falls : N.G. W. S. Carswell ; Nightcaps : Per. Sec. R. T. Styles ; Orepuki : P.G. C. J. Evans. There was a good attendance of Oddfellows from the Mataura Falls and other lodges. The Grand Master opened the proceedings at 2 p.m., but as soon as the delegates' authorities were collected and the Grand Master hall delivered his address it was agreed to adjourn till 5 p.m. to enable the representatives and district officers to visit the. Freezing Works and Paper Mill,arrangements for which had been made by the Mataura Falls Lodge. The Grand Master's report was aa follows : — v I have much pleasure in welcoming you to Mataura, which but*searcely half a century ago was the home of the Maori and the weka. . . . . We have here several important and flourishing industries And foremost among* all progressive interests in our much esteemed Order we have the Mataura Falls Lodge, being one of the youngest, and I trust the most vigorons of oiir District Lodges, and has a bright and successful future before it. We -peak of the magnificent work the Unity has done, the large number "of its members, the amount of its accumulated funds ; but it is only when we visit lodges such aa the Mataura Falls . Lodge that we - get an insight of how such results at© at joined— by the self-denial of itofficers, the ungrudging time and labour they devote to make the lodge a success — that these and such as these build up the Unity and make ifc one powerful whole. Ia addition to the wonderful interest which surrounds this beautiful town of modern commercial enterprise, there is a further interesting feature arising out of the fact that for the first time in its history we are holding our annual District Meeting. I trust that this somewhat unique incident may in no way detract from its success - but that as a result of our deliberations on the Order our knowledge will be enlarged, our interest stimulated, and our zeal and enthusiasm so much intensified that we shall all return to our own homes more determined than ever to promote the prosperity of the M. XL and the social advancement of its members. During my term ol G.M. I have endeavoured, with my district colleagues, to pay official visits to the whole of the lodges under my jurisdiction. I am exceedingly pleased to say that we have, on all occasions been most cordially received and made extremely welcome. " I. have found them invariably well conducted, and have on several occasions complimented the officers on the efficient working and orderly conduct of the Lodges throughout the Diatric . Tbere is on© thing I wish more particularly to bring before your notice, i.c, the Grand Master- regalia. - 1 think ther e should be some insignia of office that would more particularise him as Grand Master above all other officers of the district. lam pleased to note that this- is the largest representative meeting ever held in tbe Southland Distriot, comprising, as jit -toes, some 23 delegates, representing lp different Lodges, with a total membership of 1044 members, which I consider is very creditable. The total membership of the 10 Lodges of the District: — For the year 1900, total 986 „ 1901, „ 1044 Increase " ... ... 58 The financial position of the Di_fc-ict : —

The management funds of the lodges show anincr^se^mtwal-ii^e-j-^^while there is a decrease in six, also a deficiency in two of the lodges in that fuiid, whioh shows tbat this fund requires -to be zealously guarded and carefully husbanded. : The sick pay; for the same period paid* by the various lodges amounts to the large sum of £1434 4s lOd, the year .l.9ol being an exceptionally, "heavy, year of sickness ; among most of the V Lodges. * The' distribution of such a large amount shows .be- urgent "need of. friendly societies such as oars, and must have been & welcome . .relief to many a sick home thronghoat . the District. I shall now quote a short paragraph of the Government Actuary's' report. He^says :-The leading society in point of membership is the MancheFter TJnity Independent Order of Oddfellows, which has 156 lodges and 16 central bodies, with a total membership of 15,192. The accumulated funds of tliis powdfful Order are worth £364,555, of which amount, £339,119 is credited io the sick and funeral fond. The Registrar remarks that while the comparatively low f death rat£ is | a matter for' congratulation to 't_ie | individual! members, "it cannot be so 'regarded from a financial point of view, : for the average sickness per member at risk increases with, age, and thd additional average expenditure on account of sick pay is likely to exceed thß gain arising from the deferred death cLiim a__l the.increased value of the contribution.^ The' increase of membership shows that friendly societies -are duly appreciated by a section of the community. Friendly societies have become quite a power in the land, and the membership of the 14 .different orders (including working men's clubs) registered in the colony -represents an army of thrift whose forethought is commendable and worthy of emulation by others. -•.: . * It was decided, on the motion of P.P.G.M. Bro/ Smith that the "Grand Master be thanked for hia address, and that it be printed ih the- report of •; the. proceedings. The minutes of the District officers' meetings ■were read and ccmfirmecL - The G.M. moved that the District balance sheet be receiv'-d and approved, seconded by P.G. Bro. Gardiner, and carried. _The matter df holding the District meetings yearly or half-yearly was freely discussed. P.G. Bro. Smaill moved, seconded by P.G. Bro. Woodnorth, that the District meetings be held half -yearly instead of annually as at present— Carried by 16 votes tosr P.P.G.M. Bro, Small moved, which was seconded by P.G. Bro. Smaill, that a district auditor be appointed. P.P.G.M. Bro. Smith jnoved as an amendment that the matter be referred .to tie^ktrict officers to report at next half -yearly meeting.. P.G. Bro. Edmonds seconded, i. Carried by 16 to 2. The question of increasing the contributions caused a deal of di_c__^|on. P.P.G. M. Bro. Smith moved that the District officers be appointed a committee, with power to add to their number, to investigate the matter and bring up a report at next • Distrie. meetingi Per. Sec.' Bro. Styles seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. . _ The committee appointed to examine lodge balance sheets reported that with the exception of that of Nightcaps Lodge all the balance sheets were in and were satisfactory. It was suggested that a committee be appointed to examine the books aud put them in proper order.— P.P.G.M. Bro.' Smith explained that the- Nightcaps Lodge was especially nnfortonate. They were the youngest Lodge ih the district, and their first" permanent secretary was accidentally killed, the second had gone to Sonth Africa with one of the contingents, and when the present secretary took the books over _he was utterly unable t- vajitang -w_t_ them. -He moved that the report, be received and adopted : seconded by P.G. Bro. Porter and carried V.G. Bro. Lowrie moved that P.P.G. M.'s T. W. Walker and J. H. Smith be ap" pointed to examine the books of the Nightcap Lodge at a fee of one guinea each ; seconded by P.G. Bro. Porter and carried. The committee appointed to consider the matter of the boundaries of Southland District reported that they had communicated with the Otago District, who were strenuously opposed to any alteration.— V.G. Bro. Lowrie moved the reception and adoption of the report; seconded by P.G. Bro. Gardiner and carried.— lt was pointed out by several speakers that the boundaries were absurd, lhe boundary of these districts were the old provincial boundaries, and the general opinion Was that the boundaries cfS-uthland should be the boundaries of Southland county. On the motion of P.P.G.M. Bto Bust, seconded by P.P.G.M. Bro. Smith, it was resolved that the committee reconsider this matter with a view to having the boundaries Jii-tiPTfifl The consideration- of fixing levies, as recommended by the District, at 3s to the sick fund and a/similar amount to the management -hn^^;)*©' collect^ iv two instetoents, was c^ an amend- J

For the year 1900, £16,935 10s 3Ad „ 1901, 17,524 10s 9_d Increase ... 570 Os 6d.