FORESTERS’ CONFERENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 August 1925, Page 7

FORESTERS’ CONFERENCE.

AIEEITNG AT INGLEWOOD. The half-yearly meeting of district of hears a,mill delegates was held at Inglewood on Tuesday. There were present: D.C.R. Jim. If. E. Ki.vell, D.S.O. R. lire. 11. N. Tate (Waitara), D. W. lire. If. Flews, D.T. Jim. H. K. Giaitittey, D..’>. Dio. A. J. Tunbridge. Delegates: T. \ A.lt!, lire. J. IJ. -Murray (l iniut Upunake), U.D.G. K. Jim. A. J . May (Cutuic. ‘iluii-anei.ki), T.O.JJ. s line .J. 1 rear ni and J. If. Uaimemn (Uount M a iieka,), T.O.U. lire. G. \\ . Were (Cburt Straff oi d). l‘.t . I!. Bro. J. R, T'enn (Inglewood), P.C.R. Uro. 1,. I’ii ideaux (Eltniam). C.R. Jim. A. J. Clyde (Court E'gmom.i, Haweta), P.U.JI. lire. If. I>. Tate (Cjui I Raleigh, \Yaiuira), P.C.R. Sifter Al. I. Dickey (Cf.Hi.rt Pride of New Plymouth), anil P.D.C.R. Jim. J. Andrews (press). ’the district officer’® reii>oub stated that the totial value of the district and Court funds as wit December 3d, 1924, amounted to £52,000 12s 3d, being an increase oiver the previous year of £2357 10s 3d. The funds were as follows: —Cbui t YVaireka, New Plytno nth, £18,349 19s 5d ; Court ba rail aki, New Plymouth, £BI3O 14« s Od; Uouuit- Inglewood Forest, £7981 3s -Id; C’oilMb Egrnont, Hawera, £4400 lira id; Count St raitiloid, £3OBB 10s 3d ; Court Raleigh, \Yiaita,ia, £2Oll 0s id; Court Jbn tea, £2103 13s lid; Court, Pride of New Plymouth, £1574 17s Oil; Cburt Robin Hood (juveniles), £702 7c 2d; Count Phi die Of EiLthjaim, £O6O Ilfs; Cburt Opunakc, £507 5s Id; Ta.rainaki disitirifet, £.1802 18s 4d ; total, £52,090 12s 3d. The above figures indicate what splendid progress this district and counts were making. The executive was of the opinion that with continued careful management on the part of variOus officers concerned the prosperity of the district would in future be wonderful. ‘The total number ol members was noiw 1090, Cburt AYiairefcai heading the iltiisfc with 021, Inglewood 203 and Stratford 200. There had been an increase of 03 members over the previous year. Gonttiriblitmus to diistreewed members totalled £l4 ant'd donation's £lO 10s. Funeral payments l totalled £175. Deference was made to the napab lo manner in which 13m. C. H. Tate (Waitara) had carried out his duties. During the half year several of the Courts liad been visited by one or more ol the district officers, who found the work of Forestry being carried out in a proper and rsaitisfaiotory manner, and thanks were due to the officers, and members for the kind 'manner in which they were received and entertained. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Bio. Way congratulliated the officens on the very tme report submitted. An increase had been shown in every department. Pro. Murray, in seconding, also expressed his pleasure at the comprehensive report submitted. It was a matter of congratulation that the number of deaths bad decreased compared with previous periods,' and si,ole (payments .showed lc'ss demand®. He was also gratified to note the fine progrestsjve lnovement noticeable throughout the district. Bro. Tunbridge said that delegates might notice that the total worth of the funds now was over £S2,(XX). When they assembled six months ago the hope was expressed that the funds would reach £50,000, but they would .see that this mum- had been passed. The membership for the district was 1096, and he thought this was a. 'Splendid position. The valuation returns in the paisib bald not been very flattering, hut he thought that the next valuation would be much more flattering. There was a tendency in other .societies to consolidate theii funds, but he was not favourable to thi« idea. He believed that if the Courts conducted their aliaiiu like the Taranaki district there would be little possibility oif introducing consolidation. He thought they shmved an excellent record. airnd taking all the members into comSideration it meant that the fund would work out at £32. He was positive that tfie Taranaki district; woukl compare I avou raibJy with any other diistricb in the Dominion. Bro. Ki.vell said he desired to congratulate Court Waive ha on the splendid suctceisis 1 attending its efforts. It should prove a fine incentive to delega'tes to go back to boost up theii Court along to that extent. He was proud to be in a di'Sitnct that had such a Court showing such a. wonderful expansion. He appealed to the secretaries to push on their work so 'as not to hold up the district business. The report 'and balance-sheet were then read and adopted. On the motions of Bros. Frewiu and Cameron, the report of the juvenile balance-sheet was carried. The district balance-sheet was also carried on tlie motion ol Bro. Way anil seconded by Sister Dickey. Some discussion followed on the conduct of .business generally. Bro. Tunbridge stated that a lew years ago Taranaki Irani 15,000 members, and the Actuary 'stated then that the district was one of the best managed in New Zealand. Lliey were now worth £52,000 and the report was not nearly so good. Mention was made of one Court paying out too much in sick pay. He did not think it was a night thing for the Actuary to question the pay-out to sick members. A. locail secretary 'hail to pay out on the certificate •of a doctor. Again, his Court (AVaireka) wais showing a profit of £I(XX) each year on the sick iand funeral fund, but the management fund wais, going back £OO a year, and the registrar would not peimiit a gnainb from the funeral iund to the management fund unless they increased their contributions. Touching upon contributions, the Inglewood delegate (Bro. Penn) stated the doctor’s payments in Inglewood were heavier than in other towns. Bro. J. D- Murray, referring to Bro. Peon’® remarks, thought the proposed Dominion Council could take up the question of seeing if some uniformity in medica. 1 pence and other rmttors in connection with the Order was not poseible. The Council had been before the public for some years, and he thought that something .should be known about what the Dominion Council of Foresters wans doing. Bro. Kivell stated that they were leaving the Council to forward details l of the working. He then read a few extracts. .He favoured the formation of the Council, but he believed that il they had the 'Strongest formation behind them they could not '‘secure favours from the .medical fraternity. A, vote of thanks was passed to Count Inglewood Foresters lor entertaining delegates and visitors, awl it was resolved to hold the next halfyearly meeting at Waibaira.