FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11861, 15 February 1907, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

ODDFELLOWSHJI. * ANNUAL DIS^RIUT.MEETiNGi The annual. District Meeting oj the Nelson- District/ Manchester Unity Independent <)rder 7of Oddfellows, New Zealand Branch, was held at the Oddfellows' flail, Richmond* yesterday. Prov GM A. Day presided, and Deputy i*GM G Hammond, Prbv 1 C, Secretary A R Smart, and Prov Treasurer J Cooke, were also present* 1 and delegates,' as follows.^ ' ..,,.. Loyal Nelson : PPGM B H Moller. EG's W H Robertson and J A Orsman. 1 Loyal Howard: PPGM.s A N Batchelor, P Topliss, and J Co rder, PG A R Kitching and NG A ' Stephens. Travellers' Rest: PPGM's J F 1 PappsV W D Harkness, and F W ! Smith. Mansion of Peace! PPGM I Tun- ' nichffe. PG-S..P RigginS and W | Hagen, PS F E Shuttleworth* 1 General Oairierori :,I?G R Di^hei. Loyal Mataki: PG F H.pb'oMBros Moyes; Hounsell, and Bartletfc were excused attendance. . The PGM delivered his address, i^ which it was pointed put that the 1 District had continued to progress,' both numerically and financially. The Widows' and Orphan's Fund had reached £4947, an increase for ' the half-year of £180, a donation of £40 from Mr Catley being included ; while. £129 had been paid out to widows and orphans during the 1 period. The Funeral Fund stood at £5129, an increase of £126, and £168 ! bad been paid out of the fund. The membership had reached 849, a substantial increase for the half year. 1 Lodges had been visited, and with one exception found to be working satisfactorily, and, in that instance the Management Fund continued to go back in spite of frequent warnings, and steps should be taken to compel the Fund being placed in order at once. A number of important matters that would come before the meeting for consideration were referred to in detail, and in conclusion .the GM expressed his thanks to his colleagues 'for their support during his term of offico. * A vote of thanks was passed to the GM, and the addresa was ordered to be printed. It was resolved to forward fraternal greetings by telegram to the Fores* ters' District meeting in Nelson. A reciprocal message from the Forest* ers was received with acclamation. Resolved to forward a letter of thanks to Mr Catley for'his donation to the District Funds. There was a long discussion on the condition of the Management Fund of the Lodge, referred to by the GM, Several delegates expressed the opinion that the levies for manage^ .^ ment purposes were insufficient, %• while the other funds were being built up beyond requirements, and that a re-adjustment of levies was necessary. It was finally resolved that the time has arrived, to call upon this Lodge to reduce the indebtedness of its Management Fund, the matter to be left in the hands of the Dstrict Officers, together with Bros Batchelor, Moller and Smith, with full power to act. It was the opinion of the proposer that it was prrobablo that this Committee would be able to show the Lodge how to deal effectively with the matter. The Balance Sheet (printed) was taken as read, and satisfaction was expessed at the Auditor's report, which showed that interest averaging four and a half per cent on the total funds was being earned. Bro Batchelor (who is Grand Master of the New Zealand Branch ) explained the proposal that was being considered by the Movable Committee to secure payment of £100 on the death, of a member, literally an insurance policy ior that amount. The O.S of the New Zea* and Branch forwarded table of payments required, as prepared by an Actuary. Bro Batchelor explained that the Actuary considered that the would require to be compulsory to become self-supporting, but in the early stages (should the proposal be put into operation) funds would require to be guaranteed by the Districts concerned, so thit possible claims could be met should tbe premiums then received be insufficient, any sums so paid to be refunded. .After discussion, it was resolv ed to give the necessary gu ran tee from this District, an amendment to defer consideration being defeated. The opinion was expressed that the proposal would never mature in the face of the ample, provision made by life insurance societies. The National Annuities Bill was considered, and it was resolved that I the District disapproves of the provision of the Bill so far . as they concerned Friendly Societies, and

■A. '.-thai;, the District officers interview -•; the' local members of the Legislature arid give reasons for the objection?. Br6 Sinart;"L6dge Book Examiner, reported that he hrtd examined al books, except those of Lodge Mataki, and found them uniformly and woli kept.— Resolved tbat tbe Examine* receive two guineas for his services. Bro Smart said he hoped to visit Murchison at Easter, and then examine th.c books. The report of the Committee on paymeMtfl of Lodges to District Funds' was to the effect ihat it is undesirable to make any alteration in the payments until after theii receipt of the quinquennial valuation for the period ending December, 1905 (not yet to hand), when the matter could be further considered. — Report adopted, Committee thanked and asked to further report after receipt of valuation. Accounts were passed for £33 Gs -.3; : tt wis resolved thafctbe next meeting oi the Uistr.ct: be held in Nelson. Officers were elected as' follows: - Prov GM, G H Hammond: Deputy Prov GM, F H Cooke (after a bMlot) : Appeal Committee, Bros Tunnicliffe, Harkness, Batchelor, Topliss, Moller, Day, Robertson: Auditors, Bros Topliss and Harkness (afte a ballot): Lodge Book Examiner, Bro Smart (after n ballot) : Committee to revise District -Rules, the secretaries of the various Lodges, Bros Topliss, Corder, y Moller, Moyes* Day, Tunnicliffe, Harkness, Prebble, arid Bisher. Bfo Robertson, in accordance with notice, moved that the half-yearly -iide.iri^B df the District should be abolished, fan annual meeting Jonly -"to* be- held, and that representation ' be" on the basis of one delegate to every one hundred members or part thereof. j;*ljro Disher seconded the motion. ;*'Brp|_ HrfrkneSSj Topliss, and Tunnicliffe opposed, the. motion, which was lost, only tbe mover and seconder favoring same. Bro Batchelor, on behalf of the Howard Lodge, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that steps should be taken to see wbat arrangement oould be made witb the doctors of Oddfellowi,' Lodges in New Zealand for travelling mefflbeis to be oh their lists without having to pass the doctor. The matter to be sent ori to the Moveable Coffiiiiittee, and its support solicited | The. motion was carried; .Th.c meetine ten proceeded to con sidor a circular Zealand Friendly Societies' Colonial ; Executive, embodying a number of resolutions of the Now Zealand British Medical Association, which it is proposed shall form the basis of a conference, to be held in March, in Dddedin- between delegates representing the Friendly Societies and the£Medical Association. The spiniofls of th 6 Colonial Executive were attached . to eSCb resolution of the Medical Association, --ti.wns, resoived^hat as the Manchester Unity is riot represented on the Colonial Executive of the Friendly Societies Council, (has any opinions or recommendations be sent to the Moveable Committee. Resolved that the District suggests the advisability of the Moveable Committee being represented on the friendly Societies' Council, v-fiesolte'd to approve resolution N,o: 7,,., tnat there be aCorlferehce between Comi_itt6.es of. the Friendly Societies and Medical Association to consider the question of fees. Resolution 2 dealt with tbe procedure in the event of a disagreement between a Lodge and its medical man.— -It was resolved that the recommendation of the Colonial Executive be approved. (This suggests a tribunal of a Stipendiary Magistrate and an arbitrator from each side "to- deal with Suoh disputes, the Government to set up the tribunal, and to make it unlawful to boycott or in any way by combina^ tion to prejudicially affect either party to the award).- . Rejlolutidn 3 , dealt with fixing wage limits, so that no.p'erdnp paying income tax should be entitled to Lodge benefits. — Resolved to approve the objection of the Colonial Executive to the medicaljproposal. Resolution 4 asked for a fee to be paid a Lodge doctor for examination for admission to the Lodge.— -The objection of the Colonial Executive was approved. Resolution s.— Resolved to support the objection of tbe Executive to the proposal to prohibit members from transferring from the list of one doctor to that of another without the consent of the latter doctor. Resolution 6;— Resolved to approve the proposal of the Medical Association that every Lodge member should be on some Lodge Surgeon's book. Resolution 7 proposed that widowed mothers of single members should hbt be entitled to medical attendance unless passed by the Lodge surgeon ; and, further- that wives of hew members should submit themselves to examination, if necessary. The Colonial Executive Considered that this might be generally conceded.—Resolved to 'disapprove of tne whole proposal. The Motueka District solicited the assistance of the Nelson District to induce the Nelson section of the MedicaljAssociation to moderate the mileago charges to the Motueka and Riwaka Oddfellows in cases of medical attendance. Bros Batchelor and Smith were deputed to interview the officials of the Medical Association. Resolved that the District officers visit Murchison at Easter, and confer the Purple Degree on those brothers entitled to same. Bro. Batchelor recommended those Lodges who held hall properties to start sinking funds without delay. Bros Moller, Higgins and Batchelor complimented tbe retiring Grandmaster on the able manner in which he had fulfilled the duties of the office, and it was resolved that his portrait be taken and his name placed on the Merit board. Bro Day suitably acknowledged the vote. Bro Batchelor, as G.M of the New Zealand Branch, duly installed tbe officers, all of whom expresed thanks for the confidence reposed in them. (Bro J P Cooke has completed twenty-seven years of service as District Treasurer). The meeting concluded at 5.30 p.m