ODDFELLOWS’ CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, 7 March 1935, Page 4

ODDFELLOWS’ CONFERENCE.

FURTHER REMITS CONSIDERED. DELIBERATIONS CONCLUDED. The Wellington District Oddfellows’ Conference, which opened at Masterton on. Tuesday, concluded its deliberation* early yesterday afternoon. The District Grand Master, Bro. B.V. Gooding presided. An amendment to remit 5 was passed as follows:—’‘Scrutineers shall be appointed by the G.M., District G.M. oc IC.G. as the case may be, to collect and cast up the votes, and the number* shall be recorded by the secretary. In the event of the first ballot or any ballot disclosing that the requisite number of candidates, place and/or place*, have had cast in their favour vote* representing a clear majority of the Deputies, or members present and actually voting thereon, then such candidates, place and/or places shall be declared elected or selected. Should a subsequent poll or polls be necessary, then the candidate or place obtaining the lowert number of votes, and all those candidates or places, including the candidate or place obtaining the lowest number of votes whose total votes added together eannot obtain a majority of the votes of the deputies or members present and actually voting thereon, shall be cast out, and polling shall continue between the candidates or places so remaining after each poll, until the number of positions to, be filled or places selected, when suck candidates or places shall be declared elected or selected. Only in the case of a final poll and the votes of those members at the bottom thereof being equal' shall a chairman exercise a casting vote.”

The following remit was passed:— “That General Rule 4 be altered'4o delete first sentence of Clause 2; aiGt' substitute: ‘The M.C. shall consist of the Society officers and two other members of the Board of Directors as defined in G.R.3 (2), and Deputies appointed by Districts according to the number of members determined by the immediately preceding annual return received from each District. The Board of Directors shall at its last meeting of the year preceding a Movable Conference appoint the two members hereinbefore referred to, and suob two meat hers shall not be eligible for appointment as Deputies for a District for th* ensuing Movable Conference.” The Loyal Greytown Lodge’s remit, “that representations be made to the Registrar of Friendly Societies for th* purpose of providing that in the future the Sick and Funeral Fund shall only be required to earn 4 per cent.,” was lost.

A remit, “That the rules of Wellington District Hospital Association be amended to permit members of other approved friendly societies becoming members of the association” w»l thrown out on the voices.

It was resolved that deputies to this M.C. Conference be given a free hand except regarding remit 51, which is to be opposed—that the conferences of the Wellington District be held bi-ennialiy, the next one to be in 1937 at Johnsonville; that an invitation be extended to hold the next B.M. Conference in Wellington and that to meet the expenses of this gathering a nominal levy be made upon members of lodges in the district. Thanks were extended to the Press reporters, Bro. C. J. DeLacey and the scrutineers, Bros. Cropp, J. H. Langley and T. A. Davies and to the Press for publishing reports of the Conference. Sister McFarlane was reappointed publicity officer. The conference, which was eminently successful, was brought to a close by the installation of the G.M. and D.D.G.M. elect by the retiring G.M., Bro. 8. V. Gooding. The presentation of P.G. Jewel and Collar to the retiring G.M. was made by P.D. G.M., Bro. W. I. Clark, who eulogised the services of Bro. Gooding and -wished him a further advance in Oddfellowship. ENJOYABLE DANCE.

The Manchester Unity Oddfellows’ Donee, held in the Masonic Hall on Tuesday in honour of the delegates of the Wellington District who were attending the annual district conference proved a great success. Members from all the respective lodge* in the Wellington District were present. During the evening a presentation was made by District-Grand Master Bro. 8. V. Gooding to Bro. H. Preston, of the Loyal Masterton Lodge, of a PastGrands Emblem and collar, as a mark, of appreciation for the splendid services he has rendered during h's term of office in the Lodge. A presentation of a membership shield donated by Br<x P. M. Smith, was made by Past District Grand-Master Bro. W. B. Brown, to Sister McFarlane, as th* representative of Sister Wallis lodge, this lodge having attained the highest number of new members during the last twelve months in any Lodge throughout the Wellington District.

The Monte Carlo Waltz was won by Brother and Sister H. Yates. The duties of M.C. were capably carried out by Bro. B. Seddon. A good supper was provided, the arrangement* being in the capable hands of Mesdames Seddon, Torrance, Wainscott, Dolan, Simpson, Goodhue and Rippon. Pool’s Orchestra gave a well-selected range of dance music. At the conclusion of the last waltz everyone joined hands and sang ‘‘Auld Lang Syne.” Bro. B. J. Seddon and F. W. B. Wright were the joint secretaries.