FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2111, 20 June 1907, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

H.A.C.B.S. Tho quarterly meeting of the H.A.C.8.5., St. Patrick’s branch, was held on Tuesday evening, when there was a satisfactory attendance. A good deal of routine business was transacted, and matters , connected with the Friendly Societies’ Conference discussed.' It was decided to give delegates to -the conference a free hand in regard to voting. A telegram was received, from the Rev. Father Cleary, editor of the N.Z. Tablett, thanking the branch for the welcome to, and assistance given, the Tablet’s representative on his recent visit. . . There was spirited nomination tor officers for the half-year, an average of three or four to each office, being an evidence of the keen interest displayed by members in . the Lodge s welfare. . . Six new members were proposed for election at next meeting, July 2nd.

STAR OF GISBORNE LODGE.

At the quarterly meeting hela on Tuesday night the election of officers resulted as follows: —Bro. Jas. Nicol, N.G.; Bro. A. T. Coleman, V.G.; Bro. R. Robb, secretary; Bro. Allan Coleman, treasurer; Bro I. Quigley, rec. secretary. . , , The subject of the hospital benefit in connection with the frienldy societies’ conference .was adjourned for a month for further consideration. The brethren assembled in the supper room and partook of a repast provided by the secretary, Bro. Robb, a pleasant social time being spent. Bro. E. D. Smith -was presented with his commission as District Deputy Grand Master for East Coast and Hawke’s Bav Provincial District for the ensuing two years. In replying and proposing the toast of Bro. Robb, the host of the evening, Bro. Smith made an eloquent speech on the emblems of the Order —friendship, love, and truth. In the course of his remarks he said the business of the order is to assist its members and elevate life and character. What we need is an .active Oddffellowshfp that will fee a positive force for good, and not a mere negative, factor in the affairs of life; something that we 'can carry out of the' lodge-room with everyday life, into our homes, our polites, and our business, and not leave behind us in the lodge-room with our rituals. It is this quality in. our worthy secretary that has enabled him to be the principal factor in'placing the Star of Gisborne Lodge in the proud position it holds today, as being the loading lodge in New Zealand.

A.number of toasts were honored. During tlie evening recitations were delivered by Bros. Jas. Nicol, T. Elliott, E. D. Smith, and Forest; a violin solo was given by Bro. Lichtwark, and songs were rendered by Bros. Stuart, Smith, and Hill. “Auld Lang Syne” terminated the proceedings.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Delegates from tlie various Friendly Societies in the colony met representative medical men in AVellington to consider various matters. It was decided that a conference be held be-, tween a committee from the Frieiidly Sccieties and a conimittee - from the New Zealand branch of the Medical Association, to consider the question of fees; that in the event of a disagreement betweep a Society or branch and its medical officer, or between a lodge and the Medical Association, the matter be submitted to a committee drawn from the local division of the New Zealand branch of the Medical 1 Associating pnd the branch concerned; if tlie committee fail to agree that the matter be submitted to arbitrators, one to be appointed by each party; that in the event of' a candidate 'bpipg passed by a medical officer, and spell' candidate being initiated the quarterly medical fee of tlri member be paid to the medical officer examining such candidate; in the case of rejected candidates the examination.fee be five shillings. The conference eoufd not endorse the suggestion that no person paying income tax should .be entitled to lodge .benefits. It was also decided that the widowed mother of a single member should be entitled to medical attendance, providing she is dependent on such a member. These resolutions were only agreed to tentatively on the part of the "doctors, who made it clear that they had not full power to act for the whole of the medical ;iroftssion engaged in lodge work.