FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13049, 8 March 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

MANCHESTER UNITY OF ODD-

FELLOWS. v

ANNUAL MEETING NELSON

DISTRICT*

(From "Thc'Colonist," Feb., 10.)

The annual meeting of the Nelson District of the New Zealand branch of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was held at Wakefield yesterday. There were present: Prov. Grand Master: AY. H. Prebble; D. Prov. G.M.: .1. W. Hagen; Prov. C. See: A. G. Shrimptqn. Prov. Trcas.: J. P. Cooke, and'lodge delegates as fol- 1 3ows: — Nelson: P.P.G.M., A. Day; P.G.s, AY. H. Robertson, A. Cross, F. Graham, and H. AA'. Schwass. Travellers' Rest: P.P.G.M's., F. AY. Smith, AY. D. Harkness, and P.G., Win. Lammas. Howaid: P.P.G.M's., J. Corder, Robert Allan, P.G-'s., A. E. Davies, AY. Thompson, and AY. Liddle. Mansion of Peace: P.P.G.M's., I. Tunnicliff, P. Higgins; P.G., J. J. Rickc-tts, and P.H., F. E. Shuttleworth. Gcnyral Cameron: P.G., 11. Disher, and N.G., J. A. F. Satherley. Matiki. P.G., T. Bell. Palmyra: P.S., J. AY. Christian Tlie Grand Master in his address stated, inter alia, that the. last return ' of the Registrar of Friendly Societies g.we the numerical strength of the Manchester Unity in Sow Zealand, as follows '.—Number of lodges (registered) 208; with a membership of 22,018; possessing an accumulated capital of ■ £605,159 (is lid, of this, sum £557,311 ; is credited to the sick and funeral funds, ,and £-18,847 12s lOd to management, and other funds. The average capital per member was £27 10s 7d. The total number of 1 nminhers of Friendly Societies at the 1 31st December, 1909, was 64,428, with 1 i total funds amounting to £1,266,296, < or an average capital of £19 13s Id. Of the total members, the Manchcs- ' tor Unity has more than one-third, and of the total.funds, practically one-half, and £8 per member above the average. 1 Referring to the Nelson District the Grand Master stated that on the 31st December, 1910, the membership of thri seven affiliated lodges totalled 895, with an accumulated capital of £37,084, subdivided as follows: Sick ] funds, £25,868; management funds, ] £313 17s lid; distress funds, £G1 10b ] 3.1; district funeral fund, £4,753 0s j 8d ; widow and orphans fund, £5,813 J 0s 8d; medical aid funds, £S 17s 2d; 1 goods, £21 10s. lid; and other funds ; not included in the above, £214 Is Bd. 1 Throughout the year the income from i members contributions amounted to I £2,221 Is Bd, and the sum of £1,610 1 10s was wriied as interest on invested ( capital. ■ 1 • During the year the sum of £1726 ( 12s 11(1 was paid in sick benefits, in J funeral benefits £193, and in widows' ] and orphans' allowances £391 14s Bd. J The average capital per member in the ] district now stood at £41 13s, being ( an addition of £21 19s lid more per 1 inwribe-r compared with the average possession per member, of the total a funds .of the friendly societies in New 1 Zealand. i The Grand Master referred to an J article issued by the. Registrar of Friendly Societies regarding unsound s finance, and also to the steps that had * been taken in Nelson to observe the centenary of tho order. s Inferring to the National ProviJe'it i fund, lie pointed out that by joining J a friendly society, the Oddfcllov/s, for instance, a member received jmmadi- t ate benefit, viz., medical attendance i and medicine, after six months he re- ] "cived sick benefits, after twelve i months he was entitled to funeral i benefits, and if married widow and i orphans' benefits. For these benefits ( ii member joining at the age of 1G : contribiitdd 2s 10(1, plus management i and medical expenses, averaging Is 6d 1 per lunar month. Under the Act a i man had to contribute for five years before lie could get a.ny benefit at all, i and in the eases of sickness or accident, \ must be incapacitated for a period of i 13 weeks before any relief was grant- ] cd. A member joining this fund at { age IG, and contributing 9d per week . or 3s per lunar month, for 44 years, ] vould be entitled to receive 10s per i week at ago 60, but if he did not .< marry, or if married and had no chil- < dren, he got nothing for sickness or ' accident during the whole* of that period. ' The Grand Master' further referred to the matters of securing the books, i stock, and records of the District; a.v ■ enlargement of the* portrait of the : pioneer of Oddfellowship in Now-iZm- < land (liro. Sullivan); visits to lodges; ; the Past Grand's. Lodge; juvenile ' lodges ; and con eluded by thanking tho : District officers for their assistance In ' carrying on the work of the District. There was some discussion upon the reference in the address to the opinion of the Registrar of Friendly Societies upon the special levy or assessment system of providing for death benefits. In the last return ' published tho Registrar stated inter < alia: "The introduction of this perni- 1 eious scheme for offering large death benefits, without adequate provision, is probably tho roost dangerous attack yet made on the stability and good standing of our Societies, amd should it spread throughout these valuable organisations, the Friendly Society movement in this country nil! most certainly rcceke a serious set back, and bring nothing but disappointment to numbers of persons who have been induced to join this scheme. Whatever may be said to the contrary, the systems that have been adopted in New Zealand arc on the En me fallacious basis as similar schemes that ha);e been and are now working havoc among fraternal societies in America, and any difference in detail that may exist is to the disadvantage of the New Zealand system." The general opinion was that legislative action in this matter was desirable. The National Provident Fund Act was discussed, the general opinion 1 cIng that without in anyway discrediting the scheme it was desirable 'bat the greater advantages offered by -the Friendly Societies should bo more advertised. Bros. Ratchclor, Prebble, and the district officers were appointed a committee to consider the Act and any probable amendments thereto and report at the iiiext meeting. At the suggestion of the G.M. it was resolved that an enlargement be ! mnde of the portrait of the late Bro. ! Sullivan, tho founder of Oddfellowship in Nelson and the Dominion, and the same placed in tho hall at Nelson. Arising from the suggestion by the Grand Master it was resolved that a safe bt> procured for the use of tic C. Secretary. The G-.M." was then thanked f-- and congratulated upon his address, and +he sa.ive was directed to be printed with the report of the proceedings. Fraternal greetings were received by telegraph from the district meeting of Foresters, and a resolution ieeiproeatiug the good wishes was p-isfrd and forwarded to the meeting ov the ; sister society. ! Bro. Chas. McGee, the oldest member of the ord'-r in the dist-i-t, for warded from P<iororc his gr?otn:p, which were received with applause. An apppa! was received from a forI rner member for re-instatement in a ' lodge in the country. He asked that his appeal should be forwarded to the Board of Directors. lit wns resolved i to forward the appeal to tho Directors. i Bros. Day, Robertson, Batehelor, Fairey, Harkness, Ricketts, Bell, and ) Corder were elected as the Arbitration Committee. ' The Trustees and Special Committee ■appointed reported that the securities and valuations in respect to loans on mortgage had been carefully revise cd. • ... It was reported that one lodge in f the district had broken the rules by o initiating candidates on & scaile now obsolete.

A dclegato of the lodge concerned' made an explanation, and stated that tlie rules would in futuro be conformed with. In view of tho promise made a nominal penalty only was inflicted by fine, the lodgo to be infoi mcd that any repetition.oi the offence would be met by the maximum penaltj. The C. Secretary icportcd that all lodgo returns for the jenr 1910 had been sent in promptly and with the exception of* the irregularities just dealt with the seveial auditors reported all books and accounts as satisfactorily kept. 'I he C. Secretary then made n detailed jeport upon funds of the district and the seveial lodgus, the totals being dealt with in the Giand Master's address.-

The report was approved and ordered to be printed with tho report of proceedings.,Bros. Gully, Batchelor, Hesseltino, and the district officers were appointed a committee to consider tho question of lodge returns and forms ior same and report at next meeting. Accounts amounting to £32 15s lid were, passed for payment. It was resolved to hold tho half yearly meeting in Nelson.

Officers for tlie ensuing year were elected and installed by P.P.G.M. F. AY. Smith as follows:—Prov. G.M., J. AY. Hagen; Dep. Prov. G.M., AY". Thompson.; Prov. Treas., J. P. Cooke ( re-elected); Prov. C. Sec., A. G. Shrimpton (re-elected). Broa, Harkness and Shuttleworth were elected auditors on a ballot, there being four nominations. Bros. Harkness and Smith were appointed lodge book examiners.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring Grand Master, and it was resolved that his portrait be taken, his name bo placed on the merit board, a.ud he be given the honours of P.P.G.M.

The retiring G.M. .expressed his thanks for the cordial assistance he had received from his officers, and the kind manner in which he had been received by the lodges visited. The District officers returned ftbanks for the confidence placed in tkoru by their election.

The delegates dined to-gethcr at Mr F. H. Durbridge's AVakeficJd Hotel.