MANCHESTER UNITY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 21 June 1926, Page 12

MANCHESTER UNITY.

LOY'AL TIAIARU LODGE. (Contributed.) Tho quarter night meeting of the Loyal Tiinaru Lodge of Oddfellows was hold, last Wednesday, \ihen_ Lio. Ti. Beckett presided over a splendid atOlio candidate was initiated, and it was announced that several _ juvenile members who are nearing tile adult age would be promoted shortly. A letter of recommendation m layoutof a member from a northern distne was accepted. Loval Addington Lodge wrote in reference to a member to whom they had issued a recommendation, and asking that certain , steps ho taken, it was agreed to favourably consider the Loyal Rose of England Lodge, Molbourno, forwarded particulars of sick and funeral benefits of one of then members who lias been many years resident in Timaru. Owing to laxity in his own Lodge, his affairs had drifted into an unsatisfactory jiositmn. iheso have now been placed on a piopei | looting, and Loyal Timaru van now , deal with them should occasion arise. Four members declared oft tho sick funds and one on, leaving only two (besides chronic cases) on the list, .it was resolved to pay the contributions ot / ono case from the distress iund. • A letter was ordered to be sent to Bro. Chas. Afoore, sympathising with him in his time of sickness, and expressing appreciation of his great sci-vic-os in the cause of friendly .societies. Tho secretary was authorised to pay

r-,30 funeral allowance of a deceased member to the legal representatives, and to square bis sick pay account in order that the estate may bo administered. , , , „ Two full benefit lady members o. Loyal Ashburton paid the Dodge a, visit, and received a most 'enthusiastic reception. This is the first time in many years that a lady member has been admitted to a meeting of Loyal Timaru I,edge. Their presence to many was a novelty, hut it only- indicate--' what has been done in other parts t) cater for the needs of the sex, and forecasts what the Manchester Unity in South Canterbury must do if it wishes to uphold the reputation of the Order. Prov. G.AL Bro. Chas. Smith, accompanied bv tho District 01Hcei*s. also paid an official visit. In his address, he congratulated the Lodge on its improved working, and gave a. short account of affairs under his jurisdiction. Those show that as soon as tho new rules have been adopted and tho new financial schemes come into full force, tho Afanchester Unity here, so far as benefits are concerned, will_ he equal to any other Society or Order in the Dominion. . , „ .. It was reported that the installation of tho officers of the Juvenile Lodge would take place at next meeting, and an invitation was extended to adult, members to he present. Tins Lodge, now has the largest number of members in tlio history of Juvenile Otldlellowship in South Canterbury. Pleasure was expressed that a Loyal : Timaru member, P.G. Bro. George j Tapp, had become Noble Grand of the Loyal Good Intent Lodge in Auckland. | Bro. Tapp loft Timaru four years ago j to take up a responsible business posi- ; tion in Auckland. Upon arriving there | lie became associated with Loyal Good j Intent. Starting at tlio foot? of the | ladder he worked up until he now holds the highest position that the Lodge ear. -confer on him. It is expected that during tiro ensuing half-year Loyal Good Intent will become the largest Oddfellows Lodge in the Dominion. Reference was made to the present j position of tlm Friendly Societies Bis- ; nensarv. Five years ago this part or j Friend’v Societies’ work was in a very j *bad way. but by reorganisation and an j increased Lodge levy it was mad--' , financial. Tho directors out of profits have been creating a reserve Bind f-n- , future purposes. No objection can he taken to this course, but it was frU j that the Board of Directors should : make some effort to increase sl.il! more , •fie outside receipts and relieve the ; lodges of some part of Ilic heavy levies | *lhev have so patiently borne.

Particulars of two hospital schemes I in Ota go wore forwarded. Those showed that if the South Cauiorburv Friendly .Societies hospital scheme is to ho the sueooss it should bo, radical chances will have to he made. No j work is more closely related to hospital \ work than that of Friendly Societies. I Within the Dominion there arc 90,001) ; members, and if all who receive direct j benefit arc reckoned, the number is ! fully a quarter of a. million. These members have subscribed over £3,000.- , 000 to supply relief in times of sick- , ness and distress. In 1921, almost I £IOO,OOO was paid to members in side j pay to keep the wolf from the door wlii'e bread-winners were laid aside; over £29,000 was paid in funeral allowances, and tens ol thousands paid in medical services. Alenibers do not belong to the well-to-do class, ami were it not for these societies the expenditure of our hospitals would he enormously increased. 1 1 is tclt that the local hospital scheme con'd be very much improved. Friendly Societies pav half rales, that is 10; in the £, | lor certain hospital services to their members, while it is currently reported that the general public as a whole pays only 5 to 0 shillings in the pound lor exactly the same sendees. This shoo'd he investigated by the Friendly Societies Council, and if true, better conditions insisted upon. L ntortuu•ately the Conned has pursued a policy of silence, instead of enlisting i lie sympathy of Societies members and the general public. I util Friemily Societies have a dime! ropre- , sentative on our Hospital Hoards their scheme ail! lack cohesion, and wi 1 tail to give tire results it ought to. Accounts amounting to CD 17 17s 9d acre passed lor payment, including two maternity allowances, a iiinoral claim, and the medical services fpr too quarter. The Hodge, owing to a greatly increased list of clients, is now paying almost £2OO a year more for medical services than it did five years ago. | The rcfcipls for the evening amounti ed to £Ol3 Is od.