United Friendly Societies Conference.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4671, 19 June 1893, Page 3

United Friendly Societies Conference.

■ ■■ ' ♦ A meeting of delegates of Friendly Societies was held in, the Foresters' Hall, Oxford Terraoe on Thursday evening. The following brethren were present:— 1.0.0.P., M.U.— Bros H. E. Morgan, W. Fisher and J. Bedford; P.A.P.S. of A.— Bros A. Bleach, J. Middleton and H. Skinner,- A.O.F.— Bros F. E. Bowen and H. Crooks ; Sons of Temperance— Bros F. Ores well and E. Baker; U.A.O.D. Bro J. Fisher; H.A.C.B.S — Bro L. Haughey j 1.0.0. F., A.C.— Bro J. Donaldson ; Bro G. J. Sellars, H.A.C.8.5., Chairman and Bro J. A. Clarke, 1.0.0; F., M.U., Secretary. The Secretary read the annual report of the Committee, as follows :— " It will be in the recollection of the brothers that at the laßt meeting of the conference, it was decided t©' place before the members of the different Lodges, Courtß, &c, three proposals in reference to medical attendance and dispensing.. As no doubt you are all aware, circulars setting forth the different proposals were issued, and, after a considerable lapse of time, though replies were received from nearly all the Lodges, Courts, &c, only eight Lodges (numbering about eight hundred members) signified their approval of a central dispensary, and the proposal to allow aB many doctors to practise as would consent. Notwithstanding, your Committee decided, providing the medical gentlemen would conBent, to make a start, and appointed the Chairman and Secretary to wait on them, with the view of ascertaining how many were willing to fall in with the soheme, but we regret to have to inform you that the result of their interview was unsatisfactory. Wo understand the medical gentlemen made the question an Association one, with the result that, taking advantage of the knowledge that the different societies were far from being unanimously in favour of the soheme, they decided not to agree to the proposal. Owing to the want of unanimity among ourselves, your ' Committee, with a considerable amount o reluctance, find themselves in the unpleasant position of having to recommend, for the present at any rate, that the question of medical attendance, &c, be postponed sine die. Your Committee have great pleasure in stating that over one hundred lodges of the different societies throughout New Zealand have joined the Association for interchange of medical benefits, and that the first annual meeting was held in accordance with the rules in January last, when the necessary officers were duly appointed. The conference is to be con* gratulated on the successful issue of their efforts in establishing so useful an Association. A list of lodges, &c, connected with the Association will be placed before you. A special meeting of the Association has been convened for June 29 to consider certain alterations to the rules suggested by the Association. Tour Committee have great pleasure in informing the members that Bro G. J. Sellars, while in Auckland, had an interview with the Secretary of the conference there (Bro Garrett, Distriot Secretary A.0.F.), and exchanged fraternal greetings also with the Provincial C.S. of the Wellington District, 1.0.0. F., M.U., and the District Secretary of the Foresters at New Plymouth. He will place before you a copy of the balancesheet of the Auckland Friendly Society Hospital Sunday, kindly furnished by the Secretary, showing a most satisfactory result. Your Committee are of opinion that a scheme somewhat similar might with advantage be inaugurated for Christchurch and surrounding districts. We cannot let this occasion pass without briefly touching on one or two points which undoubtedly operated against the success of the proposals made to the medical officers of the Friendly Societiesby your Committee, viz., the action of one of the Societies, who, first taking part in the several proposals laid before th» Medical Association, suddenly withdrew from the conference, which the Medical Association were not slow to take advantage of, by refusing to. make any concessions whilst the Societies themselves were divided npon the subject. We wish to remind the members that the time has arrived when the Vigilance Committee should be op and doing, seeing that the session of Parliament begins almost immediately. Probably the existing arrangements of the 1.0.0. F., M.U., can be utilised with advantage. Mention is made in the Anokland Friendly Societies' Hospital Sunday balance-sheet of a concession made by Government to members of Friendly Societies, in regard to the Rotorua sanatorium fees. If proper representation was made to the Minister in charge probably a like concession could be obtained in "the Hanmer Plains hot springs fees, which would be of great benefit to Friendly Society members in this Island." Bros F.Creswell, R. Baker, H. Crooks and others spoke in favour of adopting a Hospital Sunday in Christchurch, and several of the clauses in the report were referred to the Vigilance Committee to take action upon, after which the report was adopted. The expenses incurred in connection with the conference, church parade, &c, were then passed for payment. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — Bro G. J. Sellars (unanimously re-elected), Chairman ; Bro J. A. Clarke (re-elected), Secretary ; Conference and Vigilance Committee — 1.0.0. F., M.U., Bros D. Kennealy and W. G. Fisher; A.0.F., Bros F. E. Bowen and E. Watts; P.A.F.S. of A., Bros A. Bleach and J. Middleton ; U.A.0.D., Bros J. Fisher and W. Archibald; H.A.C.B.S, Broß L. Haughey and G. J. Sellars ; Sons of Temperance, Bros F. Creswell and B. Baker. The sum of fire guineas was voted to the Secretary in recognition of his valuable services in connection with the conference. The following resolution, proposed by Bro Bleach and seconded by Bro Creswell, was carried unanimously — "That the conference views with much pleasure the action of the older Friendly Societies at Home in admitting female members, and trusts the movement will extend to the Colonies." On the motion of Bro Skinner, seconded by Bro L. Haughey, a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the Court Star of Canterbury for its kindnes3 in placing the hall at the disposal of the conference. A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.