FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12019, 21 August 1907, Page 6 (Supplement)

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

ODDFELLOWSHIP,

HALF YEARLY DISTRICT

MEETING.

The half yearly meeting of the Nelson District Committee of the New Zealand Branch of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows was held at the Oddfellows Hall on August 8.

There were present — Pro - Grand Master: G. H. Hammond (in the chair): Pro. Dep. G.M., F. B. Cooke; Pro. C. Sec, A. R. Smart; Treasurer, J. P. Cooke; and delegates from the lodges as follows:

Nelson: P.P. G.M. A. Day P.G. s W. H. Robertson, J. A. Ors man, A. J. Pellew and W. H, Prebble.

' Travellers Rest: P. P. G.M'.s W. D. Harkness, F. E. Smith, and T, Lammas.

Howard: P.P. G.M'.s J. Clear, J, Corder, A. N. Batchelor, P. Top iiss, and N.G. A. E. Davies.

Mansion of Peace: P.P. G.M. Ivo Tunnicliffo, P. G's H3gen and F. Higgins and P.S., F. E. Shuttleworth.

General Cameron : P. Sec. : E. S Fairey. <

Mataki: P.G. : J. White,

The Grand Master in his address drew attention to the satisfactory state of the funds. The small sum of £2i only had been required for funerals, and to widows and orphans JSI3S had been paid dnring the six months. During the term he had visited the lodges and found them working satisfactorily, though as a rule the attendances were not satisfactory, the work being left to a few willing members. He especially commended the officers and brethren of Mataki Lodge (Murehison) on the excellent manner in which they conducted the business of the lodge. The Committee appointed to revise District rules had commenced their work and the report would be ready for the annual meeting. Since laat meeting the C.S. of the Friendly Societies Colonial Executive had been authorised to appoint a delegate for the Nelson District at the Conference with the British Medical Association (Bro. G. E. Godber was appointed and forwarded a report). The G. M. concluded by thanking his officers for their assistance and members throughout the district for their kindly receptions, and he appealed for more members to show an active interest in the workings of the Order.

The G.M. was thanked for his address and the game was ordered to be included with the minutes of the proceedings.

The statements of District accounts showed that after meeting current liabilities the District Man agement Fund had increased the credit balance by same .£7 to £83. The Funeral Fund had increased from £5129 to .£5375, and the Widows and Orphans' Fund bad increased from £4947 to £0083; and the total worth of the District Funds was shown to be .£10,542. The valuations of tbe District Funeral Fund and the lodges just received showed that the district as a whole had a surplus of £3253.

Bros. Topliss and Harkness, auditors, in their report alluding to the Funeral Fund expressed the opinion that the balance to credit was too large, and justified a reduction in the levies imposed on lodges.

Bru Batchelor, U. M. for New Zealand, congratulated the District upon the highly satisfactory state of the finances revealed He was particularly pleased to find the expectations of those, who in former years had been active in getting these funds on a proper basis, more than realised, as the valuation reports just to hand would show.

The balance sheet was formal! adopted

A resolution of sympathy and condolence in the death of P.G.M. Bro. Walton (England) was passed, and an appreciation of the great services rendered the Order by the deceased was included.

The matter of medical attendance on members of the Order resident in the Tadnior and adjacent districts cane before the meeting, the present position being explained. No motion was tabled, but the trend of the discussion was strongly in favor of giving every assistance to the brethren in the district referred to to stare a lodge.

The matter of the deficiency in the management fund of the General Cameron Lodge again came up for consideration. It was shown by a report from the committee appointed that the deficiency had beea largely reduced and a small levy per member would liquidate the balance. This, however, did not provide for the future, but, the lodge did not see its way to increase the contributions to meet management expenses, while the funeral fund was so much in surplus; the lodge claimed that it should be able to transfer a portion of the contributions from the funeral to the management fund.

an exhaustive discussion followed, and while satisfaction was expressed at what had been done, the consensus of opinion was that the lodge should not only continue its efforts to wipe off the deficit, but also adjust its contributions.or increae its membership, to provide sufficient to meet management expenses as incurred. Discussion took place with regard to the procedure where a member of the Order had had his name struck off the books of his lodge. This member protested against the action of the lodge. It was resolved to refer the petitioner to the District rules, which provide that such appeal must first come before a summoned meeting of the lodge affected.

Nominations for District officers (to be elected at the annual meeting) were then made as follows :— Pvov. G.M., D.P.G.M., F. H. Cooke; Dep. Prov. G.M.. Bros. W. H. Prebble, P. Higgins. W. H. Robertson, W. Liddle, A. J. Pellew, J. W. [lagen, and J. Bartlett; Auditor, (2)', Bros. Topliss, W. D. Harknessa and F. W Smith ; Lodge Book Examiner," Bros. Smart, Topliss, and Smith.

The G. M. gave an account of the visit of tbß District offioers to Murchison, and he commended the members of Lodge Mataki for the excellent muster in spite of the bad weather, and the rivers being up prevent3cl others being present. He reiterated his remarks as to the admi rabls manner in which the lodge was worked.

It was resolved to hold the next district meeting at Wakefield.

Bro. W. D. Harknes3 pointed out that there appeared in the list of amendments of General Rules stated to have been made at the last M.C., an amendment that was lost (this was in connection with clause 2, rule 31).

It was resolved to call the attention of the Secretary of the Society to the matter.

It was resolved that the valuations of the District and Lodges be printed and circulated among members, and that as soon as the Widow and Orphans Fund Valuation be received that it be printed and the whole brought before next annual meeting. A resolution was unanimously carried placing on record an appreciation of the good services rendered Oddfellowship in the district by P. P.G.M. Bro. F. H. Hounsell, who has removed to Auckland. The meeting terminated at 4 p.m.