ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Otago Witness, Volume 06, Issue 1986, 6 March 1890, Page 11

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

The annual meeting of the United .Otago District of the Aucient Order of Foresters was jheld on Friday at the District Chambers, Manchester Unity Hall, Stuart street,, Dunedin. j Business commenced at 2 o'clock p.m., ;the following officers and delegates being present :— District C.R. Bro. A S. Adams (in the chair), D.S.C.R. Bro. Robertson, D.T. Bro." J. Macfie, 1 D.S. Bro. W. Woodland, D.B. Bro. R.> lngram,' and the following delegates : — Court Pride of Dunedin— P.D.C.R.s Bros. J. Wilson and D. Pinkerton, and P.C.R. Bro. A. Watson ; Court Enterprise— P.D.C R. Bro, J. Melville, and P.O.R's Bro. E. Turnbull and C. Hi Oaten; Cyjirt- Pride of ■ the Leith— P.C.R.s Bros. Mitchell, Cole, aud Beatson; Court Bruce — P.CR's Bros. White, "J. Inglis, and Butler; Court Pride of Oamaru — ' P.C.R.s Bros. Duff and Cairns; Court St. Andrew — PC. O.K. Bro. Williams, P.C.R.s Jarvis and Dunn; Court Star of Tuapeka— P C.R. Bro. Pope— Court Little' John— PiC.R. Bro, Armitt.

The D.C.R. then opened the meeting by delivering the usual address. The balance sheet and auditors' report were read, received, and adopted.

Correspondence from various courts was received.

A letter was received from the Rockhampton District re the formation of a Subsidiary High Court for the Australian colonies, and it was resolved that the qustion be referred to the various courts for their consideration.

Funeral claims on behalf of three deceased brothers and four members' deceased wives were passed for payment.

The new revised rules were confirmed, and will be immediately forwarded to the revising barrister and registrar.

A valuer's report was obtained as to the value of the securities held by the U.0.D., which was considered highly satisfactory.

ANNUAL REPORT.

D.O.R. Bro. Adams read the District Executive Committee's report for the past 12 months, which was adopted and ordered to be printed. The report is as follows :— -

Your executive are pleased to be in a position to report satisfactory and encouraging progress for the past year. The gain in members is greater than for several years past, and the funds also show a sub" sfcantial advance on last year's figures; while' the amounts disbursed for. sick pay and. funeral allowances demonstrate thai the order is fulfilling nobly , the purpose for which it was founded. The following are the numerical and flnanoial statistics for the year :—

- The amount disbursed for sjok pay is at the rate of 15s Oid per member, but it Is'j- of course, unequally distributed, the older courts having paid by far the larger proportion. The death claims have been in respect of nine members and 10 members' wives. While the district, as a whole, shows the above Increase of members aud funds, some of the courts in .the goldfields districts seem, unfortunately,; to be declining. This i* owing chiefly to the fact that the benefits of the order cannot readily be obtained for members in those districts, medical attention and dispensing being practically unobtainable at such rates as can be provided for out of contributions. The following courts which have added largely to their membership roll during the year deserve honourable mention:- Court Pride of Oamaru, 47 members initiated ; Court Star of the South, 40 ; Court Pride of the Leith, <35 ; Court Bnterprlne, 29. We trust the other courts may follow their example. '. We wish to draw your attention to the fact that our order is not extending the area of its operations by the opening of new courts in settled districts outside the centres of population. We believe that something might be done in this direction, and commend the matter to the favourable consideration of members and courts. The number of members lost by arrears has bpen large, and we would urge upon courts the desirability of making some effort to istop this loss. Timely help in cases of need might do much. We would suggest that members falling into arrears should be looked up, aud, if possible, induced to pay up. We regret very much to find from the returns of one country court that its treasurer is in default, and that no security is held. Arrangements have, however, been made for the gradual repayment of the amount unaccounted for, which it not largiy The provisions of the new laws as to fidelity bond's will, it is hoped, prevent any loss from this cause in the future. Nothing further has been heard of the Royal Commission to inquire into the working of friendly t societies, and we presume the matter has been dropped. Our annual fete was held on 11th November last, and resulted in a gain of £30 to the relief fund. We have endeavoured unsuccessfully to induce the trustees of the gardens to erect shelter on the ground. Pursuant to the resolution carried at your last meeting, your executive called a meeting of delegates from the various friendly societies to arrange for a united friendly societies ga'a in connection with the exhibition. The matter was taken up enthusiastically, the commissioners have met the societies very fairly, and the gala will be held .next Thursday, when we hope that the Foresters will be well represented. ,„•■,, The district seourities have been valued by Mr J. B. Thomson in accordance with your resolution, and his report will be laid before you.

It gives us great pleasure to say that during our term of office no serious difficulties have been met with and th<it thi work of the order generally has been carried on smoothly. We wish the U. 0.1), increased success, and our successors In office a pleasant and prosperous term.— We are, *c, A. S Adams, D.O.R. J. ROBBhTSON, D.S.O.R. J. Maofib, D.T. W. Woodland. D.B. } B. Ingram, D.B

ELECTION OP OFFICEHS. The business of courts having been dealt with the election of officers was held, and resulted as follows : D.C.R , Bro. J. Robertson ; D.S.C.K., Bro. R. Ingram ; D.T., Bro. J. Macfie (reelected) ;DB, Bro. W. Woodland (re-elected) ; D.8., Bro. G. Glover ; district auditor, Bro. W. G. Fail ; Arbitration Committee— J. Grant, G. Morgan, G.W.Geddes, F. Turnbull, G. Styles, J. Parker, A. Day.

■. , BAILWAT INSURANCE BILL. A resolution was carriea to the effect that this meeting express their disapproval of the bill about to be introduced into the next Assembly re the railway employes, as it is detrimental to friendly societies generally, and are determined to do all they can to prevent the bill from becoming law.

THE RETIRING D.C.R.

The newly-elected officers were duly installed in their respective positions, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers. It was resolved that P.D C.R. Bro. Adams be presented with a P.D.C.R.s neck ribbon, that his name be placed on the respect board, and that he be presented with the usual testi--monial.

In the evening a banquet was held at the Sbamrook Hotel, and was attended by about 50 brethren, including a number of country delegates. Bro. J. Robertson, D.C.R , presided, and Bro. IngrahyD.S.C.R., acted as croupier. The toasts included "Success to the Otago District," proposed by Bro. Cairns (Oamaru), and responded to by Bro.' Woodland (district secretary) ; and " Kindred Societies," responded to by Mr A. H. Shblton (Druids).

> NUMERICAL. 1888-89. 1889-90. Number of members on roll ... 1,337 1,453 Admitted by initiation ... ... 181 242 „ , „ clearance ... ... 6 15 Total admissions ... ... 187 ! 257 Lost by arrears ... ... 82 124 „ clearances ... ... 7 • 13 „ expulsion' ... ... 1 0 ,', resignation .... ... 1 0 „ death 8 10 Net gain for year ... ... 83 . 116 . FINANCIAL. £ b. d. £ B. d. Total fundß of court ... 18.185 8 7 19,008 00 Inorease ... ... 1,641 8 7 83t 0 0 Total funds of distriot 3,991 310 4,238 13 3 To' al funds, courts and ■ • district- „. 22,176 12-5 23,304 13 3 Disbursed for sick pay 1,027 18 4 1,116.8 4 Funeral ... ... — 280" 0 0