A.O.F.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15895, 8 May 1917, Page 2

A.O.F.

CANTERBURY UNITED DISTRICT. ANNUAL MEETING. The fifty-fourth annual meeting of the Canterbury United District of the Aucient Order of Foresters waa held in the Force tors' Hall last week, the following officers and delegates being present—D.C.R. Bro. "W. E. Inglis, D.S.C.R. Bro. A. K. Marks, D.B. Bro. E. Rudkin, I.P.D.C.K Bro. R. Kerr, P.D.C.R. Bro. O. Jaccbsen, D. Treasurer Bro. W. D. Marks, D. Secretary Bro. C. A. Cooper; Court Star of Canterbury, Bros. J. "Withe*. W. W. Tanner, H. A. Owen, .and A. E. Lace; Court Queen of the lales, Bro. F. Coleman: Court Pride of Courtenay, Bro. G. T. Robertson; Court Thistle of the Forest, Bros. E. C. Paull and F. Wiae.nu.ri; Court Woodford, "Bros. F. Loonies and V. 7 m. Hart; Court Pa-panui, Bro. AV. R. Hockey; Court Si.u of Dunsandel, Bro. Geo. Sheat; Court Star of Belfast, Bro. D. C. McArthur; Court AaLburton, Bros. J. Phaup and W. H. Robiiison; Court Queen of Canterbury, Sister E. "Wheeler; Court Victoria, Sister E. 11. Colman; Court Richard Stephens, Bro. V. H. Partridge. Apologies for absence were, received from Courts Star of Rakaia and Loburn. The D.C.R., Bro. "W. E. Inglis, opened the District Court at 3 p.m., and extended a hearty welcome to the delegates assembled. A motion of sympathy was passed to the wifo and relatives of the lato Bro. \V. AV. Miller.

This executive officer's report, which was adopted, referic-d to ths lot% of membership during the past year owing to the war, and also to the provisional registration of the District a-a an approved 60ciety under the Social Insurance Act, which had been effected, enabling the maternity benefit to lie paid to the- various Courts in the District. Considerable discussion took place with regardo to the modfl rules forwarded by the Registrar of Friendly Societies; and on the motion of Bro. J. Wathew, seconded by Bro. Geo. Sli-eat, it was resolved that tlio District endorse the executive action.

It was also decided to register as a branch ,of tho N.Z. Foresters' Society.

Bros. J. Phaup and W. D. Marks were appointed delegates to wait on the South Canterbury District with tho view of amalgamating with the S.H. Court. The delegates to the S.H. Court gave a report of tho proceedings at tho meeting held in Napier lust February. The question of adopting the High Cour: Scheme to aid returned soldiers was left over until the October meeting, to onablo all Courts to consider the scheme. Tho balance-sheet showed the finances of the District to be in a strong position, the funeral fund being in credit to the amount of £11,081 12-9 Id, while the management fund credit was £311 lis Id. On the motion of Bro. 11. A. Owen, seconded by Bro. G. T. Robertson, tho balancesheet was adopted. Brother .T. Phaup brought ud the question of the large number of mcmoers who were in tho reinforcements, who riad gone from tho country Courts, and stated that sdmething should be done to assist them I was resolved that the executive consider the question of help to the county Courts and report at the nest meeting. The election of officers resulted:—D.C.K., Bro. A. K. Marks; D.S.C.R., Bro. E. Rudkin; D.8., Bro. F. Coleman; trustees, Bros. H. A. Owen and J. Y. Beattie; auditor, Bro. Geo. J. R. Procter; appeal committee, Bros. R. Butterworth, C. J. Sparc, F. T. Eldrige, W. J. Nixon, R. Roper. The installation of officers then took placp, the clectcd brethren returning thanks. A vote of thanks was accorded the retiring D.C.R., Bro. W. E. Inglis, and for his services to the Order was invested with the insignia of office. The place of next meeting was left in the hand 3 of the executive.