ORDER OF FORESTERS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 30 August 1926, Page 10

ORDER OF FORESTERS

TARANAKI DISTRICT.

The half-yearly meeting of tli© Ancient Order of Foresters (Taranaki Distinct) was held at New Plymouth, on. Friday, whojn the following district were present : D.C.ii. Bio. o. S Tate, D.S.C.It. Bio. R. R. Plows, D.\Y.‘ Tiro. E. L Mercer, D.B. Bro. J. C. Frew in, D.T. Bro. A. J. Way. D.S. Bro. A. J. Tunbridge. The .following delegates represented the various courts: Court Taranaki, Bro. E. H. tribe, P.C.R,; Court Waireka, Bros. It. Millman and J. E. Cameron, P.C.R.’s; Court-Stratford Bro. G. W. Were, P.C.R. ; Court Inglewood Forest, Bro. R. Fawcett; Court Patten, Bro. R. W. Hamerton, P.C.R-.; Court Pride cf Elt-ham, Bro. H. E. Williams, P.C.R.; Court Raleigh, Bro. C. D. Tate, P.C.R. ; Court Egmont, Brc. A. J. Gyd-e, P.C.R.; Court Pride of New Plymouth, Sister M. 1. Dickey, P.C.R.; Court- Ommake, Bro. F. Coleman, P.D.C.R. - The chair was taken by the D.C.R., Bro. Tate, who duly opened the proceedings, following which the .secretary proceeded with the reading of the monthly meetings, the reports being adopted. A letter was received from t-he Dominion Council, touching on the- question. of the usual conference of the Council not having eventuated at the appointed time, and also urging on the Taranaki District the necessity of sending a delegate to thfe conference as soon as a date-can be arranged, as some matters of vital importance to L'orestery are to be brought forward. — Li it her to the- Taranaki Council had not joined up with the Dominion Council, but after discussion as to the advisability of the district being represented, the following iresclution was passed: “That the district'officers be empowered to send delegates to the next Council meeting .should they think -same advisable.” i . In moving the adoption of the halfyearly balance-sheet, Bro. E. Tate congratulated the district on tlie -atisfacijry state of every department under the district’s control. The district officers’ report showed that the total value of the district and court -hinds at December, 31, 1925, -amounted to £55,340 Vs 2d, being an increase over the previous year of £3243 14s Id. The increase was the largest surplus for one i ear in the history of the district, and the executive -had pleasure in .eferring to the -sound financial* position of the various courts and the district. The last -report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies showed the district had a surplus of £6.76 per member at Die last valuation, this being next to the highest of Foresters in New Zealand. For a, small district like Taranaki rby 1 lesults spoke highly for the efficient manner in which the fluids have been invested and the management generally. The total -membership was 1744, an increase. of 48 members over the- previous year. The benevolent fund for i-lie past six months showed that distress contributions were £5 5s Id and a donation of £3O. Funeral uriiowanaes totalled £265, being seven members . ud two •members’ wives. Thet question, of the next district meeting' was brought forward, and it was decided to hold it next February in Hawera. The district secretary spoke on the jubilee- of Inglewood Forest, and stated that it was -not onlv a creditable cereliumy to the court, but also to Forestry in general, -as interest was taken in the occasion by many members reprei enti.n.g various courts in New Zealand. The following were nominated for office for the ensuing term, viz. : D. Bro. R. E. Plows; D.S.C.R., E. T. Mercer; D.W., Bro. Frewin; D. 8.. Bros. L. PTideau, Were, and Henderson. The question of a new ritual was discussed, but no action was taken, pending possible adoption by the Do-

minion Council of a universal procedure for New Zealand. A hearty vote -of thanks was passed by the delegates to the New Plymouth courts for the kindly way -they were received and entertained. A vote of thanks was also passed to the visitors .attending the meeting. fn conclusion the chairman, Bro. Tate, thanked the delegates for their presence and interest in the proceedings.