ANCIENT ORDER OF FORRESTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 13

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORRESTERS.

ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING.

Th« annual meeting of the United Otago District, A.0.F., was-held on the 27th ult., at jfhe District Chambers, Stuart street. D.C.R Bro. J. Gillies presided, and the other officers of the executive present were : — D.S.C.R. Bro. *W. Perry, D. T. Bro. J. Macfie, D.S. Bro. W. •Woodland, and D.B. Bro. W. H. Munro. The following delegates were present : — Court Pride of Danedin— P.O. R.'« Bros. A. W*tion, R. Lorraine, and E. .Mason ; Enterprise— P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Melville, and P.C.R.'s Bios. 0. W. Patton and E. Morgan ; Prido of the Leith— F.DO.R. Bro. J. Robertsoq, and P.C.R.'s Bros,. W. Anderson and J. M'Kenzie ; Bmce — Secretary Bro. J. Diokcon and Treasurer Bro. J. M'Murtrie; Pride of OAmaru— P.O.R.'s Bros. 17. Cairns, W. Harts, and J. Mackie ; Star of ynapeik— PC R. Bro. M. Fraer ; Pride of Alexandra— Bro. F. S. A-dred ; Star of the South— P.C.R. Bro: R. Folley ; St. Andrew— P.D.C.R. Bro. G. Williams, and P.C.R.'* B os. R. Jarvis, and' W. Dunn ; Bxoelsior -P.C.R.'s Bros. W. Mearns and J. Patterson ; LittleJohn— Bros. F. Fraer and A. 8. Sinclair; Woodlands Pride— P.C.R. SU. A. Withyman and Sister M. Morgan ; Victoria — Sisters M. B. Rivers and B Campbell ; Queen of the SouthSisters M/GHchrist and M. H. Prior ; Pride of Koxiyn— Sister B tfeczks. The D.C.R. opened the meeting with tbe Usual charge to the delegates, and afterwards read tbe annual report of the district officers. The report is as follows :•*- To the Delegates of the various Courts of the • United Otago District, in District Meeting . Assembled : "Respected Brothers and Sisters,— Your executive desire, in the first place, to express their pleasure at befog able to welcome to this table an increased number of the fair sex as representatives from the courts for women. From the keen and active iutere.t which has been manifested by them iv the working of their respective courts we are encouraged to expect valuable assistance from them in the consideration of the matters which will occupy our attention to-day. It is also our earnest desire that each annual meeting ehall see an 'increasing number of delegates present from our courts for women. It is with great gratification that we are aVle to come before you upon this occasion with a statement of the past 12 months' transactions— a statement wbioh testing to our popularity as a society, and show*, also, a fair increase in our financial aswsts. Last year we were pleased to be iv a position to congratulate you upon an increase of 195 members. It i» very Batisfactory,vindeed, to your executive to report now that the additions to our memberBhip during the past year have been almost equ»Hy encouraging— viz., 146. ' We are notslow'to recognise that much of the honour for these results is due to the enthusiasm and loyalty to our ancient order shown by the members of some of our larger courts; but, at the same time, in proportion to their numbers, many of our smaller branches have also done well. We trust that this stats of piattera will bs maintained, and that at tho next annual district meeting our successors will have a like report to present to you. The following is the NUMERICAL STATEMENT.

' X FINANCIAL STATEMENT,

The foregoing financial statement ia evidence that we are making steady progress in this respect. The courts have increased their assets by nearly £1300, while the district funds show au advance of about £600, the values standing at £25,879 10s and £6873 lfe 2d respectively, making a total for the whole district of £32,853 «s 2d. Though the amount disbursed in sick pay is . £100 less than the previous y<-ar, yet it stilt stands at.a hfeh figure— £l66l. The funeral claims were slightly heavier, but this is only what wo must exn^t, a.- tbf ace of the district increases. NEW COURTS.

fcmJcf vvrt Uct met together your executive have had the pleasing duty of officiating at the opening of three new branches of our order in this district. Two of these were for women— the first being Court Pride of Roslyn, meeting at Risljrn, a?-d the second Court Qaeen of the South, meetins at Invercargill. The third court was for males, and \ras instituted a month ago at Woodlands, a thriving township 10 mile* north of f uvercartill. This la«i court has over 40 members, who are not r included in the increas* alre*dy remark -d upon. ' Pr«vions to opening these new courts, we hare been very careful to insist upon proper arrangements being made by the promoters for the supply , of medical attendance a»d medicine, as upon due observance of this greatly depends, we are convinced, the, future stability of all new branches. With prudent management, we have no doubt these additions to our roll have a long and prosperous career be 'ore them. ' THE'NEW DISTRICT RULES. At our last annual district meeting it was Btated that the new district rules wora in the hands of the registrar. After, a correipondence extending over »ix months, caused principally by what your committes considered a wholly unneceftsary interference upon the part of the revising barriiter, the rules were finally registered, and immediately circulated among the members."' "They "have been very carefully rearranged and classified throughout, and also supplkd with a copious index. As the statement &s to the origin of our order, contained in the previous "Preface" to our Rules, had been discredited by the Executive Council at Home, your Classification Committee thought it .would be well for tho information of new members that a reliable history of tha order in a condensed form should be" substituted. This was prepared by Bro. W. H. Munro, and inserted ; and it has given rise to many expressions of approval. The District Executive have also been pleased to tec ive letters commending the rules generallyHot only from our own members, but also from other parts of the colony. PRIVATE BENEFIT SOCIETIES. A motion was passed at the last district meetIng instructing the executive to hold a conference with the members of the executive bodies of the various friendly societies represented ia Ofcago, for the purpose of considering the advisability of taking united action in the matter of private benefit societies. A meeting was convened shortly afterwards, and was attended by officers from the Ancient Order of Foresteis, the Independent Order of Oddfellows (M.U.), and the Independent Order of Rechabites. Notification was received from the United- Ancient Order of Druids that they would be in favour of restrictive legislation. A motion was moved by a member of your executive — "That this meeting is in favour of the Friendly Societies Act being amende d in the direction of nsakine the regifctration of private benefit societies compulsory." After fullydiacussing the question it was decided, BeeiDg the apathy displayed by several of the ibcieties, to let the matter drop in the meantime. " A SUBSIDIARY HIGH COURT.

In June last we received a circular from one of the northern districts of the order, advocating the establishment of a Subsidiary High Court for New Zealand, ' and requesting our assistance therein. A reply waa sent stating that we did not think the time was opportune for such a step ; and, further, we did not consider th? probable benefit 1 to bt derived would jußtify the outlay ianMl

THB FRIENDLY BOCIRTIE3' QARDBN3. Dariog tbe past year the lease of the Friendly Societies' Gardens at Sawyers' Bay explrocl, and the Gardens Trustees entered into correspondence with the Minister for Lands with the object of e^ttiog a favourable renewal. The terms offered at orst were not »uch a% to incline the trustees to advfre the continuance of the lease, but ultimately a renewal was obtained on the terms previously en jojed. Advantage was taken of the occasion to present Mr A. S. Sligo, who has acted as secretary and treasurer for the Gardens Trustees for some years past, with a token of tha esteem in which his service* have been held. This took the form of a gold albert and sovereign case, and was presented at a meeeing at which representatives were present from the several order* intsrested. The trustees also decided to return to the contributing societies the sum of £90 each. Our district relief fund has therefore benefited by that, substantial addition to ite income during tha pa^t year.

THE ANNUAL FETE. The usual Prince of Wales' Birthday fdte was held at Sawyeis' Bi\y. The weather during the day was somewhat unsettled, and the grounds, owing to previous rain, were not in the best condition. Considering these drawbacks, ther? was a very fair attendance. :The financial reUimp. however, were far froon satisfactory — bartly meeting tho actual expenditure in fact,— and the F6te Committee passed a resolution recommending that the holding of these annual sports be discontinued in the meaniime. From a review of the fetts from this point of view for some yeara past, your exocutive are reluctantly compelled to coincide with the terms of the motion. The carrying out of these sports has entuted a large amount of labour eveiy year upon everyone concerned, and lattetly the Railway department has been the only gainer. In the light of the fact that they have been the means, probably, of making the order mere widely known, it may be contidered that our exertions have not Seen wholly without profit.

A LAPSED COURT. It is wifh some regret that we have to report the closing of one of our branches— namely, Court Pride of Hokonui, Gore, which returned members at last district meeting. The chief can- eof the breaking up of the court was a misapprehension on the part of the members as to the extent of the services to be rendered by the surgeon in return for the annual fee paid him. Your executive are glad to say, however, that they have ex< ellwt grounds for believing tbat a stronger court will shortly be opened there uud/sr more favourable conditions.

READMISSION OF MEMBERS. W© would direct your attention to an.important change in the High Court general laws with reference to members who have been struck off the roll through being in. arrears. We make the following extract from the October quarterly leport issued by the Executive Council :- '•' A change of some importance has been made in general law 80. It consists in the abolition of any period within which a suspended member may secure readmission into the order. Hitherto that has been when leas than 22 months' contributions were due Now, no matter how much may be owing, if a medical certificate showing good health is produced, and all arreivs paid, readmisrion can be had at any time. We think this will tend to remove the irmntice of oH members being obliged to forfeit their interest in the order, by wason of a temporary inability to pay contributions." Of course, this will not affect us unless we think fit to alter our own rules It is open to quoation whether it would be prudent for us to extend the latitude of 15 months now allowed ; but it ia a subject which m*y well be left for your consideration during the ensuing 12 months.

VISITING THK COURTS. That every court in the district should be visited by one of the district officers at least once every year would be, we believe, for the best interests of the order. The wisdom and necessity for such a course has besa felt strougly by the D.E. for some years past, and latterly ofnVera and members of country courts with the welfare of their courts at heart have urged its desirability upon us. Even with the present all too rare visits occasioned by the opening of a new court or the holding of a district meeting, much advantage has been gained by the opportunity afforded for the ventilation of d-ffiiulties and the bxplanation of different details in the method of carrying on court business. With the increased travelling facilities now available the principal objection to this step duappears, and we trust you will therefore see fit to sanction the initiation of such a courte by the incoming district executive. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. We understand that during tbe forthcoming session of Parliament a bill will probably be introduced with the object of having adequate scftlee of contributions inserted iv the rules of all our friendly oocietics Fortified by the fact that cur own great order has made the adoption of adequate scales compulsory in the United Kingdom, as applied to all new members initiated after January 1 of this year, your executive would probably have felt themselves fully justified in giving such a measure all the support in its pow»r. The competition of societies Wofkiag upon tables of rates which are grossly inadequate has always had to be reckoned with iv any reforms we have proposed, »n<i h»8 in the past proved a very ierious drawback. Were adequate ratet of contributions to ba insisted upon throughout the colony, with our superior attractions as a oociety we should look forward to much greater additions to our membership in the future than in the past, and even fvoin a financial paint of view the advantages sained v/ould be great and immediate. We trtut, therefore that you will authorise the D.E. to t»ke active rtepa to necure thii much-to-be-desired amendment to the act. OUR JUVENILE COURTS. With reference to this important branch of our order we understand P.D.C.R. Bro. J. Wilson, secretary of the Juvenile district of Otago and Southland^ •will present a report, which we propose to print with the minntes of this meeting. There are six of these courts now in operation throughout the district, and we regret that we can&ot report any new courts as having been opened during the past year. We commend this subject to the cureful attention of the delegates. A CONVALESCENT HOME. For some years past you? district trustees have had. a property on their hands, consisting of a house and bee* ion at Vauxhall, near Dunedin. It has been frequently represented to your D.ffi. that in this fay an admirable opportunity for the establishment of a Foresters' conyalesc^at home. Of course we are well aware if such a proposal be entertained the utmost care would be necessary in carrying out the requisite arrangements. We would not be inclined to commit the district to any recui ring liability in the matter, but we believo that with a small initial expenditure the property could be made productive of much good to our members. PKOGRESS OF THE ORDER. The Btatlatics of the order throughout the world as presented to the last High Couvt meeting show that at the end of 1894 we had a grand total of 888,072 members of all kinds, comprised as under : —

From the report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, presented to the 18P5 session of Parliament, we gather the following particulars with regard to the order in this colony : — The number of members at the beginning of tbe previous year was 8757, and at the close 9056, being an increase of 2^9. The receipts fro** all sources were £33,498, and the expenditure £26,970, while the total funds amounted to £143,998 The average interests on investments was 7*' per cent. THE BUSINESS PAPMI. Agttfcfrom tbe ordinary routine buaiaesi 0&&9

paper, there are one or two proposals which you will probably expect us to make some comment upon. With regard to No. 12, we think the honour therein proposed — that of representing the United Otago district, one of the oldest and wealthiest district? in the colony — a very hijyh one indeed to bestow on any member. We should, therefore, expect that the member upon whom the honour of representing us in the deliberations of the highest assembly of our order is proposed to be conferred would be one who had take a an active part In the working of our society, who had occupied its minor offices here, and in tint way had made himself thoroughly conversant with our circumstances and our requirements. You are aware that colonial delegates are specially singled out and honoured at onr High Court meetings, and that it is 'expected of them in return that they shall address the meeting, and also a i vise when subjects closely affecting the colonies are under discussion. He should also take a prominent part in the various functions which tike place during the High Court week. We should look to our delegate that he should not fall short in any of these matters. Bearing these facts in mind, we regret that we cannot lecommend tbe appointment of the brother proposed, who may be a most estimable inetnbsr of the order, but who most certaiuly has not sained that experience among us, or shown himself possessed of such attainments to bait nee that lack. As to No. 13, we think the object desired to be gained is a very good one, and would result in more closely uniting the courts of the district. The method of raising the proposed Representation fund does not commend itself to us, however, and we trust that before any decision is come to an amendment in this respect will be proposed. CONCLUSION. '

In conclusion, we have to thank the various courts, through you, their representatives, for the general haimony and good feeling which has prevailed ; and we trust that in the hands of our successors the district may still further prosper, and prove a boon to its members when in sickness, distrese, or old age they may require assistance. We remain yours, in the bonds of Forestry, John Gilmk«, D.O.R. W. Pjbrry. D.S.C. R. Wm. Woodlano, D.S. Jambs Macfie, D T. W. H. Munro, D.B.

P.C.R. Bro. M. Fraeh moved the reception of the report, and hoped that in future the report would be printed and circulated previous to the district meeting.

P.C.R. Bro. A. Watson seconded the reception. He was glad to s?e the increase that had taken place both in the membership and finances.

P.C.R. Bro. R. Mason moved the adoption of the repot t. This was ueoonded by P.C R. Bro. Mackie.

Bro. C. Williams moved that the report be considered clause by clause. He thought the report was an unusual one, and ought to be considered iuidetail. A?ter tome^ further discussion it was decided to adopt the report with the emission of half a dozen words, which committed the meeting to sanctioning the visiting of each court in the district by one of the district officers at leist once a year. BALANCE SHEET AND REPORT. Senior Auditor Bro. Ibbotson read the annual bal&ucn sheet and auditors' report, which shotted the following b&lancea to the credit of tbe district funds : — Funeral fund, £5479 Oi 6d. showing an increase of £455; management fund, £211 8s ; district relief fund, £984 19 i 7d, an increase of £132. The total assets wee £6973 163. KBATEHNAL SHEETINGS. Fraternal greetings were rtoeived from W. Reid, Grand Secretary, on behalf of the Independent Order of Oddfellows ; and from Corresponding Secretary J. Hopcrafb for the Ofcago District M.U.I 0.0. F. , GRAVE OF LATE 880. DEWAB. P.C R. Bro. A Watson meved, on behalf of Ooarb Pride of Duuedin— *' That the District Executive be empowered to lay a . concrete kerbiDg, erect an iron mailing, with gate and lock, paint the same, and also re-letter the «tono, at the grave of our late Bro. Dawar in the Southern Cemetery, Danedin. The work to be dono to the satisfaction of the executive, and the cost not to txceed £8 10s."

Eec-m'ied by P.C.S. Bro. Folley, who contidared that if the atone had been erected by the district they should keep it in order.

D.S.C R. Bro. Peery offered to do all that tva3 nccef sary. He deprecated the spending of any of the district funds in this way. Sover«l delegtteß opposed tbe motion, and it was thrown out, by a large majority. DELEGATE TO HIGH COURT. P.C.R. Bro. Meabns moved motion No. 12 as follows :—" That Bro. Peter Ireland, of Couvt Pride of Dunedin, be appointed as delegate to the High Court meeting, to be held in August 1896 at Dundee, Scotland, as represent* ing the United Otago District;." PD.Q.R. Bro. C. Williams seconded the motion, and thought the brother was one who was veil fitted to represent the district at the High Court. In reply to question put, the Secretary of Court Star of th« South stated that the brother -had never held office in that court, and that any statement to that effect was falsa. Sev«r*l brothers having spoken to the question, the motion was put to the meeting and lOJt. HBPRESENTATION AT DISTRICT MEETINGS. P.C R. Sis. Withyman moved, on behalf of Court Woodlaud's Pride—" That a district representation fuad be established by the appropriation of the interest arising from the district relief fund, and by an annual subsidy to be paid by the courts from their roauagement funds, calculated at the rate of 6d per member from courts for males, and 3d per member from courts for women. From the representation fund shall be paid the travelling and hotel expenses of delegates attending district meetings, the sum of 7a 6d to be allowed for hotel expenses for each day a delegate is necessarily absent from home. Delegate* from courts held in the town in which the district meeting is held to be allowed 7s 6d per day each for attendance at tbe meeting."

This was seconded by Sis. Morgan. P.C.R. Bro. R. Mason was oppoged to the motion in the present form, and while very much in favour of the principle was instructed to vote against it. He had gone into the cost of carrying such a scheme into operation, and it showed a saving so far as the town courts were concerned.

P.C.R. Bro. Cairns supported the prinoiple. He wished to see every court represented at each district meeting, and thought the matter ought to be relegated to the D.E. to formulate a scheme io carry the matter into effect. On being appealed to by P.C.R. Bro. Paterson, the D.C.R. moved the motion out of order. GENEBAfc, P.C.R. Sis. Withyman moved, and 8i». Moegan seconded—" Th*t the sum of £5 be paid annually from the district management fund to assiat the court or courts at the place where the district meeting is held in entertaining delegates."

Bros. Aldred, Williams, and M'Kenzie opposed the motion, and Bros. Polley, Woodland, Mason, Mackie, Fraer, and Peterson supported it, the motion beiug carried by a large majority.

P.C.R. Bro. Lorraine moved that steps be taken by the distriot executive to have a short •ketoh of (he Unite* Otago Distrieb prejpugd

from its inception, »nd, along with a portrait of the distriot secretary, have it inserted in tho " Foresters' Miscellany." — Carried unanimously. - P.O.R. Bro. Fbaeb moved that in future the j district officers' report and the balance sheets and auditors' report be printed and circulated before thf> district meeting. — Agreed to. DB. Bro. W. H. Munho moved— " That this district meeting desires to express its deep sympathy with those bereaved by the terrible, accident at the Brunnerton coal mines, and authorises the district executive to vote suoh I sum as they shall consider advisable to the relief fuud from the district relief fund. — Seconded by P.C.R. Sia. Withyman. Several delegates having Bpokeu in feeling terms, the motion waa carried unaaimausly. The salaries of the district secretary »nd district treasurer were fixed at £75 and £15, respectively. THE JPVENILB FORESTERS The DOR. having called upon P.DC.R. Bro. Wilt on, as secretary of the juvenile district of Otago and Southland, he read the following report, and urged the claims of the movenseut upon the delegate* ;—; — Sisters' and Brothers,— lt gives me much pieafmnt on behalf of the Otago and Southland District of Juvenile Foestew to repoit that oar district, consisting of six courts and 416 members (of which 368 are financial), has made fair progress during the past year. The number added to our rolls during that period was only 52, being only four more \han those who left through arrears, i which apparently gr^ut leakage \v*scaus;:d through j a large number of thoae originally emolldd and having paid no entrance feei failing to put in their appoarance at any future meeting. This is not likely to occur again. I regret to- say we lost one member by death. The other losses have been a gala to the order, 13 having been transferred to adult courts. This number will ba, I trust, considerably increased as our members increase in years. Our sickness claimß seem heavy— j633 15s 6d, paid to 27 membars for various periods ranging from three days to 27 webks, au average of 2b BJ<l per member over 13J yeSVs of age ; death, one, £6, or 4d pur member enrolled. Both of the above experiences are considerably under the expectation. You will Bee from the abovo that we are fulfilling a two-fold object: providing medical attendance, midicine, and a small sum as sick allowance to boys over 14 years of ag% is ho, iv the majority of case*, are supporting themselves ou a small wage, and training them so that on attaining the age cf 18 they may, by joining adult courts, be a means of strengthening and consolidating the good old order. This movement may further commend itself to the order and tbe public when we consider that the larger proportion of our members are eons of parents not connoted with any friendly society.— l am, yours f 1 aternaUy, * John Wilson, Secretary. ELECTION OF OFFICEns. The following offioers were elected for the ensuing 12 months : — D.C.R., Bro. W. Perry ; D.S CR , Bro. W. H. Munro : D. Treasurer, Bro. J. Macfle (re-elected) ; D. Secretary, Bro. W. Woodland (re-elected); D.8,, Bro G. Churchill ; Trustee, Bro. W. Mearas ; Auditor, Bro. R. Mason.

P D.C.R. Bro. Wilson and C.R. Bro. Ciirns acted as installing officers, placing each membsr of the executive in his chair with appropriate remarks.

Thanks were returned by the newly elected officers in fitting terms.

RECOGNITION OP SERVICES. P.C.R. Bro. Caisns moved— "That P.D.C R. Bro. J. Wilson's many and valuable 89r?ioeB to the order be recognised by the presentation of an illuminated address." Bro. Cairus spoke in high terms of the work done by Bro. Wilson. The motion not being on the business paper, permission was net granted to discuss the question without notice. NEXT DISTHICT MEETING. It was decided, on the motion of Bro. A. Watson, fteconded by Bro R Mason, to hold the uext district meeting at Dunedin. THANKS, P.O.R. Bro. Foixey returned thanks, on behalf of Court Star of the South,* for the liberal response made by the courts to the petition circulated by his court for the relief of the widow of a deceased member. After some formal business the meeting terminated .

Number of members on roll Admitted by initiation ... , , ii m clearance ... Totel admissions ... ~. tpft by air. ars M .» ■ii clearance ... *.. ''i> death ... ... Clam for the year lout. ... 1901 ... 334 ». 3 Z 357 ~. 120 8 ... 14 ... 195 low. 2047 283 6 299 I6i 15 U US

Total value of courts... £24,5^16 6 £25,879 10 0 Increase 1.869 17 7 11288 13 6 Vfilue of district ... 6,381 14 9 6,973 16 2 Value of district and courts 30,972 11 3 32,853 6 2 Sick pay disbursed ... 1,760 2 0 1,661 16 8 funeral payments ... 320 0 0 325 0 0

Male adult benefit members ... 728,574 Female „ „ 5,475 Widows (funeral allowance) ... 17,029 Juvenile members (male and female) 110,881 Honorary members .« ... 20,113 Total 888,072 The funds had also increased by the sum o! 1227,939, and stood as follow ;- Court funds £4,610.059 District funds 644,^05 Juvenile societies' funds ... 148,378 Widows' and orphans' funds „. 54 096 High Court relief fund 29,9.1 a Companions of the Forest ... 1,837 Total £5,455813