FORESTERS' CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 772, 17 December 1886, Page 10

FORESTERS' CONFERENCE.

A meeting of the representatives of the various districts of the Ancieut Order of Foresters in New Zealand was held at the Foresters’ Hall, Lamb ton-q uay, Tuesday night. Bro. D. T. Smith, P.C.R. of Court Sir George Grey, was voted to the chair. Bro. Thomas Gapes, District Secretary of Canterbury, was appointed secretary to the Conference. There were present—Bros. Crooks, P.C.R., and Gapes, D.S. of the United Canterbury District ; Bros. Woodlands, D.S., and McFoe, P.D.C.R. of the United Otago District; Bros. Woodroofe, P.C.R., Bo vis, D.S., Hutchins, P.C.R., and Smith, P.C.R., Wellington District; Bro. Haslam, D.S., Nelson District ; Bros. Holmes and Spence, Hawkes Bay District ; Bro. Garratt, D.S., Auckland District ; Bros. Burford, P.C.R., and Hill, P.C.R., Court Southern Court, Timaru. The Chairman in opening the business of the meeting congratulated the members on meeting in conference in Wellington, and impressed upon them the importance of the questions to be submitted for consideration, and read the Order Paper forwarded by the Canterbury district, containing the following questions : —(1) To consider the advisableness of establishing a Subsidiary High Court in New Zealand. (2) To draft a uniform scale of graduated contribu.tions to be adopted throughout New Zealand. (3) To equalise the amounts of sick pay and funeral benefits. (4) To make better arrangements respecting medical attendance, examinations, reports, &c., on members in receipt of sick pay. (5) If practicable, to alter the laws to allow the brethren in New Zealand to join Courts in New Zealand by clearance without increasing their rate of contributions. (6) To give more facilities and encouragement to the formation of Juvenile Societies in connection with the Order: (7) To consider the insurance of fidelity of officers in trust of moneys, &c. Resolved that the first question re Subsidiary High Court stand over till later in tho meeting. On the second question being submitted, it was agreed to divide the items of initiation fees and contributions, and ultimately it was proposed by Bro. Garratt, seconded by Bro. Hutchins, That this Con. ference recommend the abolition of the initiation fees, and that a proposition fee of 5s be paid at the nomination of a candidate, and on his admission he shall pay for the goods in accordance with a resolution of the Courts previously agreed on. - At this stage it was agreed to give fonr votes to districts and two to Courts not in district. After considerable discussion in which all the representatives took part, it was proposed by Bro. Bovis, seconded by Bro. Crooks : That courts and districts in New Zealand shall charge the following entrance fees, viz :—IS to 25 years of age, 7s 6d; 25 to 30, 10s ; 30 to 35, 12s 6d ; 30 to 40 £l, 2s 6d to be paid on the night of proposition and the balance on the night of initiation ; but new Courts shall be allowed to charge half the above fees to members joining on the opening night. The Chairman submitted the amendment, which was carried, and became an original motion. An amendment, proposed by Bro. Garratt, seconded by Bro. Holmes, That the following be the scale of entrance fees :—lB to 25 years, 5s ; 25t0 30,10 s; 30 to 35,155; 35t040, 255, was carried in place of the former. It was proposed by Bro. Hutchins, and seconded by Bro. Bovis, That this Conference considers it advisable that a uniform scale of contributions be charged throughout New Zealand. Carried. Proposed by Bro. Garratt, seconded by Bro. Crooks, That a committee consisting of Bros. Spence, Hutchens, Woodlands, Haslam, Gapes, and the mover (Bro. Garratt), draft a scale of contributions, which shall be graduated. Proposed by Bro. McFee and seconded by Bro. Woodroofe, That the same committee draft a scheme' on clearances, and submit both to the general meeting. Proposed by Bro. Macfie, seconded by Bro. Buxford, That the consideration of the rate of sickpay and funeral benefits be referred to the Committee appointed. Carried. Proposed by Bro. Macfie, seconded by Bro. Crooks, That it be a recommendation from this Conference to all districts and Courts to pass a law so that any member changing his place of abode may have his name placed on the surgeon’s list of any Court in New Zealand. Carried. In reference to Nos. 4 and 5, a general discussion ensued, in which all the members took part. The Chairman pointed out the business to be considered, and adjourned the meeting till the next afternoon. The Committee appointed by the Conference to consider the business of contributions, clearances, sick-pay, and benefits, met at the Forester’s Hall at 9 o’olock on Wednesday morning and sat till 1 p.m. Present—Bro. Garratt, D.S., iu the chair, and Bros. Woodlands, Hutchens, Spence, Haslem, and the Secretary (Bro. Thomas Gapes). Bro. Davis, P.D.C.R., of Taranaki, having arrived during the meeting, was appointed to act with the Committee. The Secretary read the minutes appointing the Committee, and specifying the business. It was resolved that ages for data, to base all payments on, be the following : —lB to 25 years, 25 to 30, 30 to 35, 35 to 40. The Committee, having disposed of some other preliminary business, resolved that the following scale be recommended to the Conlerence as payments to the Sick and Funeral Fund:—lß to 25

years of age, per lunar month, 2s 2d ; 25 to SO, 2s 6d; 30 to 35 ; 35 to 40, 4s. The Committee resolved to recommend— That it is desirable that the laws (where necessary) be altered so that members of Courts in New Zealand shall be enabled to join any other Court in New Zealand by clearance, without paying any increase on their former rate of contributions, and that the question and arrangement of the terms of acceptance be further left over. Proposed by Bro. Garratt, seconded by Bro. Hutchens. This scale to apply to all present members as at the age they joined the Order. The following scale of sick benefits was also proposed to be recommended :—After membership of six months, half benefits ; after twelve months, 20s for 26 weeks, and a further 26 weeks at 10s, and if illness continues a furthersumof ssas long as the member is sick. Bro. Hutchens proposed, and Bre. Spence seconded, That it be a recommendation that all districts and Courts allow funeral benefits of £2O on account of free members, and £lO on the death of a free member’s wife, half-free members to receive half-benefits. Proposed by Bro. Garratt, seconded by Bro. Gapes, That the time of responsibility of Courts during members’ clearances shall be the term -specified in the general laws of the Order, viz., 12 menths, which must be adopted by all Courts. That the matter relative to clearances from other colonies, and the United Kingdom, be left to each particular district and Court. Resolved, That the Committee ask to be allowed to meet again to consider the subject of surrender values. It was arranged to submit the foregoing recommendations to the conference at the next meeting.