ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 February 1929, Page 9

ORDER OF FORESTERS.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki district delegates’ meeting was held: m Inglewood on Tuesday, when the foL lowing district officers and delegates were present.: D.C.R., Bro. E. T. Mercer; D.S.C.R., Bro. J. C. Fiewm; D.W„ Bro. G. W. Were: D. 8., Bro.; A. J. Gvde; D.T., Bro. A. J. Way; D. Bro. A. J. Tunbridge. Delegates: Court Taranaki, Bro. J. S. Lister, P.C.R.; : Court Waireka, Bros. F. Steffensen and J.' ,E. Cameron, P.C.R.’s; Court Stratford, Bro. H. Were P.C.R. ; Court Inglewood, Bro. E. Fawcett, P.C.R,; Court Egmomt, Bro. C. Shapcott (secretary); Court Patea, Bro. Hamerton; Court Pride of El t ham, Bro’ H. .E. Williams, P.C.R.; Court Raleigh, Bro. E. W. Tate, P.C.R.; Court Qpunake, ,Bro. J. D Murray. P.D.'CR. ; Court Pride of New Plymouth, Sister E. - Kilpatrick. After the minutes of the last halfyearly district delegates’ meeting, and the minutes of the monthly meetings of the district executive were disposed of and duly confirmed, the reading of the iuvenile balance-sheet revealed a steady increase in membership and finance, the adoption on being moved was commented upon satisfactorily. The half-yearly and annual balancesheet of the district court was read and showed a steady rate of progress. In the - yearly balance-sheet it. was shown that an increase of £330 in the funeral fund, and benevolent fund £34 16s lid. the total worth of the district ns on December 31, 1928, being £2422 14s 3d.

The district -officers’ report for the last half-year showed that: “In connection with the recent acutarial teport received from the Friendly Societies’ Department, . the question oi consolidating the funeral funds of the courts into the district fund nas liad the careful consideration of your executive, but after due thought we have not been able to come to any decision or to make any suggestion. We think, perhaps, this is a matter for.the delegates to review.” Tim increase was shown as 179 new members for the. year, each court in the province having- added to its numbers. Courts Waireka, Pride of New;Plymouth, and Pride of Eltliam deserved congratulations on the large numbers initiated.

The total cash received from idle national provident fund for maternity claims was £822, and the total value of claims received for the ye ax- from the various courts was £B2B, being an increase of £7B over the previous year. Grants from the benevolent fund to tlie various courts and institutions amounted to £44 3s 6d, of which £25 5s 6d was contributions of distressed members. Funeral payments were made or five members, also five members’ wives,, totalling £215. It was with deep. regret that we have to report the resignation of Sister A. M. Furlong as seeretai’y of Court,Pride of New .Plymouth after being in office since the court’s inception (1893), having held the position for 35 years. • The auditors were re-elected tor the

ensuing year, being Messrs A. H. Arnold, V. Elliott, and C. T. Mills. The next delegate meeting was set to be held at Waitara next August. The delegates passed a hearty vote of thanks to Court Inglewood! for iheir kindly manner of entertainment while in Inglewood. The election of officers then took place, when the following Were duly installed, by the D.C.R. Bro. Mercer, assisted by Bro. A. -J. Way, D.T.: For the position .of D.C.R., Bro. J. C. Frewin; D.S.C.R., Bro. G. W. Were; D.W., Bio. J3l. J. Gyde; D. 8., Bro. H. E. Williams. Bro. E. T. Mercer was presented with , the P.D.C.R. jewel for past services by Bro. J. C. Frewin, D.C.R. Bro. Shapeott, on behalf of Court Egmont, put in a notice of motion, and in explanation showed that it was with the understanding of varying the levies and also of utilising some of the heavy surplus standing to the credit of the, Foresters in .Taranaki to assist the members, and after a very lengthy explanation on the matter it is quite evident that the surplus money could be utilised to a great' advantage among members. A vote, of thanks was passed to Bro. Shapeott for his 'able discourse on the notice of motion.

The proceedings closed with the usual vote of thanks to retiring officers.