ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9355, 20 February 1892, Page 2

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

UNITED OTAGO DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of the United Otago District A.O.F. was held in the Foresters' Hall Invercwgffl, on Wednesday (says the Southland News), and was attended by the following members of the District Executive:—D C R Bro W. Geddes f.D.S.C.R, Bro. G.lMorgan; dV W W.Woodland; D.T. Bro. J.Macfie; D.8., Bro' present .—p O.K. s J. Wilson, R. B. Ingram, and W. Carr (Pride of Dunedin) ;P.C.R.'s J. Gillies, C P.C.R. s W. Perry, T. Beatson, and J. Matthews Z^r r eit£); %°-R-,Jeffe«on(St. Andrew); (Star of the_South); P.C.R. J. Patterson (ExcelSiSwMsrfe?^ Oak)- and P-CR-nK^M 1""- read f»m the G.M. of the United Otago District, M.U.1.0.0.F., conveying friendly greetings, and a reply was sent acknowledging the compliment - TTie balance sheet, which showed the funds tobe m a healthy condition, was adopted The annual report submitted by the executive stated that this was thathird time in the history : of the United Otago District that the annual meeting.had been held in Invereargill. On tfcefirst occasion in 1880 the Court Star of the South nunV twkiq^ me nbef?' ™& its funds amounted to L 575195. 9d. On the second occasion there were ■128 members, being a loss of five, but the funds iTm Uo^ih° WaW^ Wan increase of L 429 0s Id. In 1891 their membership had in- ? l« c 1 a oedtfii 85> and their.funds to L 1624 5s 4d, or ™ ?v& f + m-°re than in 18S6- Tne executive fh? W? d n"f i'^ ry e^tiiying, and expressed the hope that the court would. continue to prosper and extend its usefulness. The report noted that there was a slight decrease in the amount disbursed for sick pay and funeral claims, as-compared, with the previous'year While some of the courts had had heavy draws on their funds others, especially in country districts, had escaped lightly-one, the CourtTpride of Alexandra, having no sickness for two years - All the secretaries and. treasurers of courts had given _guarantee bonds in accordance with the nsri? i° CleM% Act- J\ c resignation *f n1,,; a- V nC ?. Glover, who had removed from Dunedin to Chnstchurch, was accepted with deep regret, and P.C.R. Bro. G. Morgan, of Court Fnr+E D? ne *dl«.' w *as a ro°inted to fill the office for the rest of the term. The order throughout S» w a°w numbered 700,000 members, with , 100,000 juveniles, and the funds amounted to five millions sterling. Courts were reminded of the illegality of using money belonging to the sick and funeral fund for management expenses, as it was contrary to the rules, and the executive trusted that any courts which had done so would refund the amount during the year. In. conclusion, pleasure was expressed at" the harmony and good feeling which had prevailed. - Bro. Ingram moved that the whole of the expense incurred by the district officer in opening a new court be borne by the District Management Fund.—Seconded by Bro. John Wilson and carried

Bro. Jefferson proposed, and Bro. Patterson seconded— That the time has now arrived when we should have an amalgamated sick fund for the whole district."—After discussion the matter was referred back to the courts for further consideration by 12 votes to 3. Bro. Harper proposed that the sick pay be 10s per week after 52 weeks' sickness instead of 5s as at present.—This was seconded, but lost by 11 to 4, it being pointed out that the allowance could not be increased without also increasing the contributions.

The election of officers for the ensuing year ffe r^w aaJ°n™* :-D.C.R., Bro. R. B. Ingram; D.S.C.R, Bro. W. R. Cole; D.T., Bro. J. feacfie (re-elected); D.S., Bro. W. Woodland (re-elected)'; D.8., Bro: G. Morgan; trustee, Bro. J. Longworth (re-elected); auditor, Bro. H. Youngman (re-elected). s

A motion to hold the next district meeting at Oamaru was lost and Dunedin substituted. P.C.R. Bro. Wilson installed The newly elected officers, who returned thanks for the honour conferred upon them. It was resolved to present the retiring D.CR Bro. Geddes, with a P.D.C.R.'s certificate and sasb.

A considerable amount of formal business was then transacted, and the meeting closed.

A banquet was held in the Albion Hotel in the evening, over 60 members sitting down to the repast. Bro. P.C.R. Harper presided, supported on his right by D.C.R. Bro. Ingram (Dunedin) and on his left by the District Secretary Bro. Woodland (Dunedin). Besides some 20 ofhcers from Otago there were representatives from various parts of Southland. The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were duly honoured. In responding to the toast of the "United Otago District,"

Bro. Woodland gave some interesting information in reply. The Otago district, he said, now had 18 courts, and their funds totalled L 21.000 and the district fund L4OOO, making a total of L 25.000. Notwithstanding that there had been a considerable amount of emigration, they had an increase in members of 32, and no doubt during the coming year this would be very much greater. When they started the Otago district the order' throughout the world numbered 66,000 members To-day they had 700,000 members and a capital of five million sterling. No society on the face of the earth had made such progress as the Foresters had. Perhaps they did not give, such large benefits as some other ledges, but if they wanted these they must pay for them.