LODGE FUNDS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14768, 6 October 1921, Page 2

LODGE FUNDS

CONSOLIDATION SCHEME COUNTRY DRUIDS SUE FARENI BODY. JUDGMENT REFUSED. It is a rare occurrence for a justice "Of the Supreme Court to refuse Lo pronounce judgment on an issue put before him. Yet tins prerogative, which is endowed on judges by the Declaratory Judgments Act, was exercised by His Honor Mr Justice Heed at Wellington last week. The facts are brief. A special mee!ini_- of the Grand Lodge of Druids, held at. Wellington in March, 1920, purported to amend Hie rules of Ihe Lodge so as in effect a consolidation of their Investment funds, and lo increase the Bttbscriplfon or the payments from their members t" a. special insurance fund in an amount as recommended by the Actuary of Friendly Societies, and approved by the Registrar of Friendly Societies, for the purpose of making the fund solvent. The action of the Grand Lodge was questioned by the trustees nf the Wuitemala Lodge (Au'Kiandi in the form of an originating- summons, issued by them against tb,. J trustees nf the Grand Lodge for the North Island of New Zealand. Mr R. G. Kirk appeared for the Waitemata trustees, and Mr J, J. McGrath for the Grand Lodge. His Honor's Remarks. After hearing argument, His Honor said:—"ln view of the facts that the plaintiffs have allowed I i months to elapse since Hie amendment of the rules before taking these proceedings, thai in the interval the new rule has been passed by the revising barrister and has been registered by the Registrar of Friendly Societies, and further, in view nf the fact that a biennial meeting has been held since, when the whole matter could have been brought before the Grand Lodge and dealt with, and (hat the rule has been and is being acted upon, I do not. Iliink that it is a proper mailer to be dealt wilh in this proceeding, and I shall, therefore, under section 10 of the Declaratory Judgment Act. refuse to give any judgment, Costs, £5 ss. and disbursements will be allowed to the defendants."