THE FORESTERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 12 February 1909, Page 2

THE FORESTERS.

AXaTAL DISTRICT MEETING. (Official Report.) The annual District meeting of the Foresters' was held yesterday at the Foresters' Hall, in Collingwood-street, when the following officers were present : —District Chief Hanger, Bro. E J Scantlebury ; District Sub-Chief Ranger', Bro. \V. J. Moffatt; District Secretary, Bro. R. Hunter ; District Treasurer, Bro. A. Dodson ; and District Beadle, Bro W. Poole. ■When the District Chief Ranger called the meeting to order at 10 o'clock, and the roll was called, the undermeutiom il delegates answered to their names : Court Robin Hood : Bros. W. T Bond P.D.C R. ; H. Bethwaite, P.D.C.R, • and L. J. Frank, C.R. Court Pride of the Forest: Bro W H Alborough, P.D.C.It. Court Perseverance: Bro. L. Dro"emullor. • b Court Sherwood Forest : Bro. James Ching. Court Ar.rrov. Bros. G. H. Allan. F.( I;. ; A. R. Sciimgeour, P.C.R. ! Jr, 1 ™ 1 ' 1 Unity : Bro. R. F. Crispin. P. CR. Court Royal Oak: Bro. A. KincP.C.R. Court Charleston : Bro James Collins, ! P.C.R. Court Concord : Bros. G. E. Perkins. P.C.R., and Bro. E. Coombc, C.R. Court Inancahua : Bro. W. V. Salter, P.D.C.R. Court Karaniea : Bro. Curtin. C.R. The District Chief Ranger ruled that General Law 14 did not apply in the case of a new Court, and therefore did not affect tho delogatc for Court Karamea. The Auditors (Messrs W. H. Alborouph and J. H- Finney) reported that tliey had examined tho books and

accouuu, and found them correct, the tofal worth of the District funas being £1041 43 od. The siun of £300 had been paid on account of ihe deaths of eight members, and four members' wives. The books and goods ware neatiy aud carefully kept by the District Secretary. Ou the motion of Bro. Crispin, seconded by Bro. King, the Auditors ' report was received. lSvo. Hunter, the D.S., presented the stiiteincuts of accounts, and on the i4otion of Bro. Perkins, seconded by Bro. Collins, the same was adopted. The District Chief Ranger delivered his address. He heartily welcomed the delegates, particularly Bro. Ciirtin, from the newlyinstitnted Court of Karamea. He considered the members at Karamea wore men of tho Tight stamp, and thnt they wonld vigorously push their court ahead. He noted that most of the courts showed an increase in membership. The total worth of the Courts stood at £22,G2fi !3s (id, and, adding the worth of thn District, the- gir^ud total -was £22,667 17s lid, showing an increase for tbo yc-r of £901 4s 10d. The amount disbursed in sick pay had been £1123 12s Id, which was £135 less when compared with the amount paid in the previous year. The total membership was 924, the number joined during the year being 92, and the withdrawals 37, leaving a nett increase of 55. He regretted thnt the matter of establishing a. Subsidiary High Court in New Zoaland had not made a forward movement. On the motion of Bro. Bcthwnite, Seconded by Bro. Curtin, Bro. Scantlebnry, D.C.1?., was thanked for his address, and it was resolved to print the same in the report of the proceedings of the meeting On the motion of Bro Alborough, seconded by Bro. Moffatt, Bro. A. King was heartily thanked for the .".•■•live interest he look in the opening of Conn K:ir.'inif-.i. It w.is it-si.hed to send fraternal gr«c-!inft* In the Oddfellows, who were holding I heir half-yearly meeting at Brightwater, and the District Chief Ranger despatched the following message: — "To the Provincial Grand Master — The Foresters in District Meeting assembled di-sire to convoy their fraternal greetings, and to wish your District and Order every prosperity.—E. J. Scantlebury. " Subsequently the following reply was received from the Oddfellows: — "Kindly accept fraternal greetings. Wishing you a successful meeting. — Cooke." The outward and inward correspondence was read, and some of the letti'rs evoked discussion. On the motion of Bro. Bethwait'.!, seconded by Bro. Alborough, it was resolved that the levies be six shillings per member for the funeral fund, and two shillings per member for t\\o management fund for the enMiiug twelve months, to be paid in half-yearly instalments. After some discussion, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Bro. Perkins, seconded by Bro. Curtin, that it is imperative to the well-being of the Order in Xew Zealand that a Subsidiary High Court be established; that, as in fact, such Court must eventually be established, this meeting strongly requests that each District in the Dominion be again urged to bring this matter to a successful issue at as early a date as possible; and that each district be asked to discuss the matter at heir annual meeting and communicate the result to each District in the Dominion. Some discussion ensued on the provisions of the Friendly Societies Consolidated Bill, proposed by Sir J. G. Ward. On the motion of Bro. Frank, seconded by Bro. Bond, it was unanimously resolved, That this meeting agrees with (he Friendly Societies Consolidated Hill as at pri'soil drafted. On the motion of Bro. Salter, seconded by Bro. Alborongh, it was resolved to send the Prime Minister a copy of the foregoing resolution. The election of officers created some interest. Bro. W. J. Moffaft was elected unopposed as District Chief Ranger. Bros. Easdale and Perkins were nominated for the office of Sub-Chief Ranger, and on a ballot being taken, Bro. Perkins, of Greymauth (Court Concord), was declared eleetod. Bros. Alborough and Finney were roelected. Auditors. Bro?. W. H. Alborough, H. Bethwaite. \V. T. Bond, James Ching, Geo. Duiisou, Arthur Dodson, W. B. Condell K. Fleming, E. Gill, C, J. Harley, w' V. Salter, and K. C. Withers weia e'oeted as the District Arbitration i Committee. J The newly eleeuj officera were dulr installed, and fill thanked" tlia brethren f.-.r electing them to their respective- positions. It was rssulvPd t,. pUce Bro Soautk-buiy's nanu' »u the district merit board, ad to plae.. his photograph among tlu.s.i of th.j Past District Chief Rangers. He was also accorded the honour of the Order, Bro. James Clung leading off the Foresters' fire. Special votes of thanks were accorded to Bro. Oibbard for his services in connection with Court Boyal Oak; to Bro. H. .Bethwaite, for aetin« for He D.C.R. at the monthly meetings of the District officers; and to tho D.S. and the D.T. Suitable responses were made by the brothers named. During the meeting reference was made to the meeting of the Higu Court at Northampton at the latter part of last year, when S6O delegates were present, several visitors from Aow Zealand being present. Bro. Pratt Walker, tho High Chief Eanger, stated that tho audit membership at the end of 1907 was 729,680, when the Court and District funds totalled £8,550,866. Tho Order was never in a stronger position. If the members on the Continent of Europe and in America are included, the membership is about ono million. The annual expenditure in the various benefits is noarly one million pounds sterling From 1834 to 1907 no less than twenty-six" million pounds sterling was disbursed in benefits. The order has now five thousand branches. The High Court mil this year meet at Glasgow Bro. Curtin thanked the members for the kindly manner in which they tad received him. He assured them that all that was possible would be done to make Court Karamea a success. The meeting was then brought to a close m due form. Tho officers and delegates diued togi'Uicr at the Commercial Hul'l.