FORESTERS FUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 32, 7 February 1916, Page 7

FORESTERS FUNDS.

HIGH COURT FOR NEW ZEALAND. ESTABLISHED IN- AUCKLAND TO-DAY. i DELEGATES WELCOMED BY MAYOR. A conference that will become historic in the annals of the Ancient Order of Foresters was opened in Auckland this morning, the occasion being the constituting of a subsidiary High Court for New Zealand. This objective has been aimed at for twenty-five years, and it is only now that a self-contained authority has been established in the Domirion. The conference, which will continue for some days, is attended by the following delegates: —

E. J. Osborne, P.D.S., Auckland; W. M. Neuniegen, P.D.C.R., Auckland; Edward 1. Scantlebury, P.D.CiI., Nelson; Robt. Kunfer, D.S., Nelson; W. A. Donaldson, P.D.C.R., Hawke's Bay; Jas. Redsha-w, D.S., hawke's Bay; Alfred Coldwill, D.C.R., Taranaki; J. D. Murday, D.W., Taranaki; Tbos. Grainger, D.C.It, Otago; J. Hope, D.T., Otago; W. W. Tanner. P.C.R., Canterbury United; John Phanp, P.D.C.R., Canterbury United. Pending the election of High Court officers, the chair "was occupied by Bro. Darlow, District Secretary, Auckland. WELCOMED BY THE MATOR. The Mayor (Mr. J. H. Guison) attended the conference to accord an official -welcome to the visiting delegates. He said there wcto three Teasonsj why he desired to do so—firstly, on I account of the representative natureand the interests which they had met] to further; secondly, on account of the| noble and humane puTposc of the! order; and thirdly, because of what he| understood to be the necessity for fur-! thering and enlarging the interests of; their work. He found that the oTder j dated back to the yeaT 1790, and thatj branches existed throughout the world, j The membership of one and α-half. million was something to be proud of. | Out of a total friendly society membership of 74,000 in New Zealand, the Foresters membership was 16,000. Whereas the funds of all societies of this kind in the Dominion totalled £1.750.000 the funds of the Foresters exceeded £400,000. Such funds required very businesslike handling. The last returns of the order showed that in the matteT of benefits the order had disbursed £18,500 in cases of sickness, £4,952 in connection with funerals, and over £16,000 for medical attention and ■medicine. "Until I saw these figures," remarked the Mayor. '1 had no idea that your order was conducted on such a large scale."' Proceeding he said that since the foundation of the movement in New Zealand a total of £2.000,000 had been paid out in benefits. Even if this were compared -with a, pensions scheme over a period of years, it was a record of which any Oovernment might be proud. He believed that unification was the order of the day. On behalf of the citizens of Auckland* he had great pleasure in welcoming men who were engaged in such a humanitarian work, and if. as Mayor, he could provide faciliI ties which would help to make their J stay enjoyable he would be still further pleased. (Loud applause.)

ACT OF CONSTITUTION. On the motion of Bro. Shaldrick, seconded b}- Bro. Allen, it was unanimously resolved: "This meeting of duly-accre-dited delegates from the several districts named below- do now formally establish a subsidiary High Court for New Zealand, and empowers the Executive Council to be now elected, to do all things necessary to register the same under the Friendly Societies' Act of New Zealand." ELECTION OF OFFICERS. After a very hearty vote of thanks had been accorded to the departing Mayor the following High Court officers were elected: High Court Chief Ranger, Bro. James Shaldrick (Auckland); SubChief Ranger, Bro. Allen (Nelson) ; treasurer, Bro. Tunbridge (Taranaki); secretary, Bro. Darlow. (Auckland) ; Senior Woodward, Bro. Wilson (Otago) ; Junior Woodward, Bro. Marks (Canterbury) -, Senior Beadle, Bro. Redshaw (Hawke's Bay): Junior Beadle, Bro. Barnes (Auckland). RANGER'S ADDRESS. In his inaugural address the High Court Ranger said that the objective which had been consummated tills morning dated back 25 years. He paid a tribnte to the brethren of Napier and Nelson for the interest they had displayed during the early days. After I protesting against the unfair compeittion of the National Provident Fund (referred to under another heading), the presiding Ranger said that in the matter of constituting a Subsidiary Hjgh Court the Auckland friendly societies had taken the lead in placing the full position before the Government, and they were relying that later on the represen--1 tatives of the friendly societies would ! meet to consider tlic question of the relation of the State to the friendly society movement. Everybody admitted the good work of tuc societies in the past, and it behoved them to see that the strength of the societies was maintained. He trusted that the conference would provide machinery for the interchange of clearances, whereby a Forester in Auck--1 land would be a Forester in any part of the Dominion. Six out of the eight districts in New Zealand had joined in the Subsidiary Court movement, and were represented to-day, although he felt that it would have been very much, better if ' they had attained complete unity by all ; the" districts joining. However, the two standing out may yet see the advantage of unity and come In to complete the, family "circle. The membership of the several districts composing the High Court was nearly 12,000, having accumulated funds amounting to over £300,----000. Provision had been made fpr safeguarding the funds of each district, so as to allay the fears expressed by Borne who were joining in the Subsidiary Court movement that they would be losing control of their funds. (Applause.). OTHER PROCEEDINGS. Subsequently the conference resolved into committee, and the High Court officers were ceremoniously installed. Sittings were to be held each day from 9 , a.m°. till 12.45 p.m., and during the after- , noon the delegates are to be shown the sights of Auckland. Yesterday they were driven from Birkenhead to Birkdale and Takapuna. This afternoon the visitors were motored to EllersWe, One--1 tree Hill and Waikowhai Park. This ■ evening they join in a theatre party. 1 To-morrow they go to Titira,ngi, and on 1 Wednesday down the harbour.