ORDER OF FORESTERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14971, 19 April 1912, Page 8

ORDER OF FORESTERS.

DISTRICTS UNITING; A SUBSIDIARY HIGH COURT. FBI TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington", Thursday. The most representative meeting of tho Ancient Order of Foresters yet held in New Zealand took place in Wellington this week, Bro. W. 11. Smith, D.C.R., Wellington District, presiding. At the present time there are eight districts of tho Order in New Zealand, each being governed by its own set of rules, and varying as to tho amount of contribution in oue case and sick and funeral allowances in others. There are 16,000 members of the Order in tho Dominion, and their sick and funeral funds now amount to £280,000. The conference is practically the outcome of informal discussions that took place when the delegates attended from all parts of Now Zealand at the initiation of Lord Islington as a Forester, and the result will bo a uniform code of rules and contributions for the Dominion- All the districts except South Canterbury, which is a small one, were represented when the conference opened yesterday. Bro. Shaldriek moved, "Tliat in tho opinion of tljis meeting of delegates assembled a subsidiary high court bo now formed." Considerable discussion took place, lasting over tho morning, and all the afternoon sitting. Several of the delegates explained that though personally favourable to the motion their hand* were tied, and they would have to report to their districts for final decision. A committee of seven delegates was sot up to go into tho financial aspect of the question. On their report being presented it was adopted by the whole- of tho delegates. The motion was then carried, tho tacit consent of tho High Court of the Order in England having been already given for the formation of a subsidiary High Court in New Zealand. When the conference resumed this morning, Bro. Shaldriek moved, "That the Wellington executive for the time being retain the services of Bro. Smith, C.R., and that lie and Bros. Redslow (Hawko's Bay), Allan (Nelson), and the mover (Auckland) be appointed a committee to carry out all necessary preliminaries in connection with tho formation and establishment of a subsidiary High Court, and to that end they draft rules and submit the same to the various districts in tho Dominion as early as possible, and that such- districts be required to supply copies of existing rules to the committee.'" The motion was seconded by Bro. Brougti (Otago), and carried unanimously. It was decided that the conference should meet biennielly, and that tho honour of the first high court meeting and high court officers should bo given to Wellington. The visiting delegates wore entertained at dinner this evening, and were afterwards taken to the Opera House by tho Wellington delegated.