ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18499, 21 February 1930, Page 13

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

LOYAL TIMARU LODGE. The annual meeting of the Loyal Timaru Lodge of Oddfellows was held last Wednesday night, when Bro. Geo. Dobier, N.G., presided over 42 members. A letter of recommendation in favour of an Otago member was accepted, r and the secretary explained some changes in the certification requirements of future maternity claims. The sick reports showed seven new cases on the benefit funds and five off. Reports from other committees were highly satisfactory. Sister R. Berry and Bro. H. Cullimore were appointed official visitors to the next meeting of the Girls’ Lodge; and Bros. N. Foord and A. McNaughton to that of the Boys’ Lodge. The balance sheet for the past year and the auditor’s report thereon were submitted by P.P.G.M. Bro. H. H. Brown and P.G. Bro. W. Catter. These showed that the Lodge in every department had made substantial progress numerically and financially. The capital had increased by* £839/18/2, and now stood at £16,723/19/8. The total interest amounted to £lOOl/17/6, equal to £6/3/4 per cent, on the average capital for the year. The Sick and Funeral Fund, in spite of many concessions, showed an increase of £6Bl/13/5, and amounted to £13,071 16/10. The contributions paid to this fund amounted to £873/8/7, of which £9B/4/3 was paid from Surplus No. 1 to assist members over 55 years of age. There were eight funeral claims paid, amounting to £IBO. Sick pa£ amounting to £549 was paid to 103 members, an average of 19/2 per annum per member at risk, against last year’s experience of 16/2, and the last Dominion rate of 25/11. To the district £278/5/was paid in funeral levies. In the Management Fund contributions amounting to £1079/13/8 were paid by all classes. Medical services cost £734/11/6, and dispensary levies £2OO/7/9. In salaries £195/6/- was spent, and printing and postages cost £74/13/6. To relieve the heavy demands made on the fund, £149 excess interest was transferred from the S. and F. Fund, making a total of £751/9/-, since the principle was adopted five years ago. Maternity allowances amounting to £204 were paid, and Surplus Fund No. 1, which relieves the older members, now stood at £2897/15/-. During the year £B2B/1/9 has been handled on behalf of members from other districts, every account being squared before the books closed. Assistance to the extent of £24/8/7 was granted from the Distress Fund to several members. Social Fund expenses amounted to £BB/13/9, of which £75/12/2 was for the sixtyfifth anniversary. Both juvenile Lodges were prospering, the boys with 91 members being worth £305/1/11, and the girls’, a -young Lodge with 62 members, being worth £sl/18/5. The total roll contained 975 contributors, of which 704 are full benefit members belonging to Loyal Timaru, and making it only 18 short of the premier Oddfellows Lodge in the South Island. The report was adopted, much praise being bestowed on those who had been responsible for the progress made. Much discussion took place over a motion dealing with those who cause so much trouble by failing to pay their contributions in time. Eventually it' was decided to increase the contributions of all those on medical, dispensary or hospital lists by one shilling per quarter, but to allow a rebate of one shilling if the contributions are paid by the end of the quarter. All the retiring members were reelected unopposed to the Dispensary Board and the Friendly Societies Council, and P.P.G.M. Bro. H. H. Brown was re-elected auditor. Five new members were proposed. Accounts amounting to £l3B/3/5 were passed for payment, and receipts for the evening amounted to £172/17/-.