FRIENDLY SOCIETIES CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8148, 24 May 1906, Page 5

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, May 23. At the friendly Societies Conference to-day it was resolved that any information required by trie Registrar from the seoietar'es should be more clearly defined in the Act, Two remits in the direction of compelling the auditing of secretaries' booKs by the Fublia Auditor or by Government Auditor were withdrawn. B'-o. S. J. Watson (Palmeraton North) moved that it was desirable that all Friendly Societies in New Zealand should adopt a uniform system of book-keopiusr, and that all lodges should have the same form of balance sheet. Bro. fl, Everett moved, as an amendmeut, the addition of the words "such uniform system and form to be established by the Government Audit Department." The amendment was negatived, and the motion carried. Bro. Larnaoh moved that the Registrar be restrained from interfering with the expenditure of management funds of lodges. The motion was rejected. Bro, Larnaoh moved, on behalf of the Otago Council, (hat secretaries be allowed to use discretion in connection with receiving contributions outside the lodge rooms, and on other than lodge nights. The motion was carried. Bro. R. W. wimpson moved to the effect that the Act be amended so that the annual returns made by lodges to the Registrar be aooepted as made up for the financial (as well as the calendar) year. , Lost; on the voices. A motion was also carried urging that the members of Friendly Societies should not be penalised under the Old Age Pensions Aoi by the virtue of drawing sick or other pay from the society. A motion urging that the moneys of aiok and funeral funds invested in property be exempt from muni* oipal taxes, was negatived.