I.O.O.F., A.C.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2456, 22 March 1909, Page 5

1.0.0. F., A.C.

THIRTY-FOURTH BIENNIAL SESSION.

Tlie thirty-fourth biennial session o£ the Grand Lodge of the 1.0.0. F., A.C., was held in Christchurch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday last. G. M. Crawley . Tlie Grand Master reported the following statistics from December I£3o, to December, 1907 :—lnitiations 3,339,656, members relieved 3,409,324, widowed families relieved 295.920, members deceased 336,918, total relief £24,044,983. total revenue £44,862.050. Fourteen new adult lodges had been opened* in the. Dominion during his term of office, one juvenile lodge, and four Rebekah lodges. The following nominations for G.M. and D.G.M. were received: —For D.M., Bro. R. Armiger, D.G.M.; for D.G.M., Bro. R. C. Gray, G.W., and Bro. Hunter, P.G. The election resulted in Bro. Gray, G.W., being elected as D.G.M. The following nominations were also received: —For G.W.. Bro. Valentine, Bro. Hinton, Bro. McLachlan. The election resulted in Bro. Valentine being elected as G.W. Bro. Reid was re-elected as Grand Secretary, and an. augmentation of salary by £oo per annum agreed to._ Bro. Alexander was re-elected as G.T. - It was' resolved: —‘ ’That this Grand Lodge, representing the whole of tlie lodges of the 1.0.0. F. from North Cape to the Bluff, emphatically impresses upon the Government the utmost necessity of amending clause 15 of the Fnendlv Societies’ Consolidation Bill, to the effect that the provision for adequate scale of contributions shall apply to all new lodges and existing members of present societies, and also of retaining intact clause 16, in the interests of all the Friendly Societies in New Zealand.” . Bro. A. Leigh Hunt was unanimously elected as Parliamentary Agent until the next sitting of the Grand Lodge in 1911. At- the banquet Bro. L. Hunt* proposed “The Parliament of New Zealand,” said said they were anxious to see a orood and efficient Friendly Societies Act passed by Parliament. They hoped the legislation would be in the direction of acting equitably towards all sections of the community. Friendly societies, lie might cay. were the training-grounds of future members, and many had o-raduated from these to Parliament. ° Mr. Ell. M.P., respondecl. He said that- the Parliament of New Zealand had dealt with tlieir old people, ami the sick and infirm would be dealt witu next session. Legislation on friendly society matters last session did not pro-tn-ess. as tlie friendly societies as a whole could not agree amongst themselves. He trusted next session they wuold place an Act on the Statute Book which would be for tue benefit oi all tlie different Orders, and lie was sure they would have the able assistance or Mr." T. E. Taylor. . . Bro. T. E. Taylor, M.P., said that; tlie National Annuities Bill, which was coming down next- session, provdeu tortile subsidising of the contributions to the Annuities’ Fund. The friendly, societies would have to consider theirposition in regard to the action c* the Government towards the people tlirc-uo-h the National Annuities Act. tie felt that they would find tnat they were going in the direction of Germany, and find the Government providing for nil cases of sickness, non-employment, and bereavement. He should be strongly in favor of legislation in the direction of making each member ol the friendly societies paying such a scale ot contribution# as would ensure lnm the benefits promised by tho various societies.