ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 11

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

UNITED OTAGO DISTRICT. The annual meeting of the abo\e District was held at the Council Chambers, Milton, and was attended by a large number of dele gates from the courts throughout Otago and Southland. D.C R Bro. J. Paterson presided, and the other district officers present were:— D S.C. R., Bro. J. Hope; D. Treas , Bro. J. Macfie; D. Sec, Bro. W. Woodland;

D.B, Bro. W. Black; and I P.D.C.R., Bro. G. W. Geddes. After the confirmation of the minutes of the ]a=t annual and special district meetings the D.C.R. submitted the District E\ecuti\e'& report, a3 follows: — To_ the Delegates of the Various Courts of the LTmted Otago District, in District Meeting assemb'ed. Respected Brothers and Sisters, — We have great pleasure in welcoming jou as delegates to our annual district meeting. It is many yeara since we last held a similar meeting in Milton, and during the interval Court Bruce has not on'y increased m membership and funds, m spite of strong opposit.on, but has nlso added another branch to our district in Court Dickson. We have no doubt that we express your feelings m conveying an expression of 3'our hearty good wishes for the continued prosperity of both courts. Numerical Statement —A comparative statement of the numerical position shows that the rumber of members on the roll at the beginning of the year 1900 was 2574, as against 2514 in the preceding year. The total admissions (269 by initiation and four by clearance) was 261 against 257. The total losses (211 by arrears, two by clearance, tvo by resignation, and 19 by ,death) was 204, against 227 in the previous year. The number of members at the end of 1900 was 2604, £>, gam of 30 aq again' t 2574 m 1C99.1 C 99. By the above statement it will be th it additions to out membership have been almost balanced by tho loss through aricais, etc., leaving us with a net gam of only 30. This lesult is very disappointing, and confums us in the belief that *ome of our courts are quite satisfied to maica members, while thinking it quite unnecessary to take any steps to letam them. Our death roll, we are glad to note, has not bc?n nearly so heavy as in the prev.ous year. The financial statement shows a much belter position of eiiairs, there being a maiked advance m the state of our funds, and a decrease in our expenditure of £700 on account of sick and funeral claims. An increase of nearly £2000 in our court funds, and over £800 in those of the district is matter for congratulation, and we hope this upward tendency will be more than maintained during tho year now enteied upon. The following is a comparative statement for the past and preceding years • — 1893. 1900. value of court funds £31,452 9 4 £33,421 0 0 Increase 1,349 2 9h 1,963 10 8 Value of district funds .. .. 9,678 4 2\ 10,492 11 6 Sick pay disbursed 2,434 3 10" 2,060 18 0 Funeral claims paid 720 0 0 420 0 0 Local Statistics. — The latest available statistics show an adult membership in this colony for the A.O.F. of 11,079, with total funds amounting to £187,703. New Zealand now takes the first place as to membership of the order in the Australasian colonies, while our funds show a total of £50,000 in advance of any other colony. The total membership of all societies in New Zealand is 35,501, with an average capital of £19 2s 2d per head. In respect to funds, ■we still keep far in front of the colonies of Australasia, Victoria coming next with £13 15s per member. The membership of the registered branches of friendly societies in these colonies totals 279,603, with funds amounting to £3,303,580 The High Court.— The high court was held last year at Plymouth, being the sixty-sixth high court meeting, there being over 800 delegates present. H.C.R. Bro. J. G. Jackson congratulated those present on the steady progress made during the past, there being at the end of the previous year a member?hip of 912,699, with funds amounting to £6,624,939, being an increaso of nearly 13,000 members, and £286,000 iii our funds. As an illustration of the good the older was doing, he stated t&nt the society was paying benefit claims at the rate of £1 10s per minute day and night all the year through. He urged upon them to keep the flag of Forestry flying; let there be no going back. He believed in the motto, " It is better to place a hedge round a precipice than to wait with an ambulance at the bottom." That hedge must be composed of solvency and good management —the two must go together. He had the fullest confidence in the future of the order. Let them I go onward, so that one of the brightest pages in our Empire's history should be that in which the doings of the Ancient Order of Foresters is written. Two brothers from this district (Bro3. White and Hunter) received credentials to enable them to be present at the high court meeting, but pressure of business, unfortunately, prevented their attendance. One important step forward was made at the meeting in tho decision to establish an order insurance fund, whereby members can insure for snms ranging from £25 to £150. It was decided to hold the high court meeting next year at Barrow-in-Furnace, Lancashire. The following is a summary of the numerical and financial returns, p.s at December 31, 1899 — llembciship Adult benefit members, 7 40,&57 , widovs contributing icr funeral allowance, 20,897, juvenile members, 129,469; honoraiy membeis 21,446;— t0ta1, 912,699. Funds Court funds, £5,532,032, district funds, £311,239, juvenile societies' fund, £180,466, widows and orphans' funds, £56,436, hish court funds, £14,766,— total, £6,624,939. Fifty-four dispensations to I open new courts were issued during the >ear. Court Robm Hood. — As jou aie aware, a i special district meeting w<-,s held duimsr the year in response to an appeal fiom Coiut Robin Hood for financial assistance, which meeting, considering that there was not sufficient information before them, referred the matter to the D.E., as a committee, with power to add to their number, with instructions to procure a valuation of the court as at 30th June iast, and confer with Cotut Robin Hoed as to the most advisable course to pursue with the object of affording permanent relief. The report of the committee will be laid before you tc-day, and your executive have no doubt that after pcnisal you will concur with them m the opinion that it is greatly to be regretted that, through the opposition of a few members of th-it court, so for no good result has been attained as an outcome of the large amount of trouble and expense incurred. Considering all the issues that have arisen out of this matter, we have thought it well to place several new laws pnd alterations of existing laws on the business paper (item 16), with the intention of giving moie power to die. trict meetings and district executives under similar encumstances. Official Visits of D.E. to Country Courts. As usual, your executive have visited all the courts m and around Dunedm, and, in addition, have this year tak^n advantage of the vote of 1890 to visit some of the outlying courts — viz., Biuce, Roxburgh, Alexandra, and Dunslan. As the thiee last-named courts had not been visited by any district officer since they were opened, and their numbers had often ! expressed a stiong desire tlyjit they should bo visited from tune to time by the D E , it was thought ad\isable that they should ha\ c the first advantage of the vote passed by the district neetmg. (A detailed recount of the visit to the various lodges follows) With reference to these visits Vs9 should like aa expression of

opinion as to what is expected from the district officers w'lea these visits are made. An impression seerced to exist in the minds of some of our country bicthren that we were on a tour of inspection , but while placing our knowledge and sen ices entirely at the disposal of the courts visited for any purpose connected with our order, we distinctly disclaimed eny idea of pr ting as an investigation committee. We should like to say, however, a few words with regaid to the investment ?nd earnings of cvi countiy courts' funds not being as good as could b? wished, and, as a case m point, it transpired m the course of conversation that a certain court has some ±100 on bank deposit at 3 per cent., or 1 per cent, less than is calculated on by the registiar m making his valuation of the district, and fully 2 per cent, less than is earned by the funds of the district under the charge of the distuct tiustees, being a consequent loss to this particular court of at least -63 per annum. We believe the same thing obtains to a greater or le=s degree in other countr}' courts, and we suggest the advisability of the formation of a " central investment fund," to be operated on by the district trustees, it being entirely optional with courts whether they should take advantage of this fund or not. Courts having sums of £10 or £25 and upwards to invest would forward same to the district secretary, and at the end of the year get their pro rata share of interest.

The Queen's Death. — It would not be fitting to close this address without making some reference to the death of our late beloved Sovereign Queen Victoria. At the beginning of her reign our order was a comparatively inBignificant institution, with less than 20,000 members, vith branches mp.inly confined to tho i^orthern counties of England. Now it has over 900.003 members-, nearly £7,000,000 in funds, and itg branches are to be found in every part of the globe. The progressive legislation passed during; her reign has greatly helped to firmly establish our own and other ordeis, an"! the settlement of Great Britain's colonial dependencies has also been taken advantage of to open many courts and districts of the A.O.F. As Queen Victoria- had, so will Edward VII have, no more loyal subjects than those who compose the membership of the Ancient Order of Foresters under the British flae

Conclusion — Besides those already referred to, there aie on the business paper other matters of considerable importance for your discussion, and we trust they will have your earnest consideration. We sincerely hope that the current year may be one of still greater financial progress, and certainly that our membership shall show a much more substantial increa=e than in the period we have been reviewing. Worthy delegates, convey to the several courts you here represent tho hearty thanks of your district executive for the uniform courtesy with which we have alwsy3 boea treated. — We remain, your in the bond of Forestry, J. Paterson, D.C.R.. J. Hope, D S.C R. J. Macfie, D.T., W. Woodland, D.S., W. Black, D.8., G. W. Geddes, I.P.D.C.R.

P C.R. Bro. Cairns spoke in commendation of the executive's report He thought that a special vote of sympathy should be passed by this •district in connection with the death of our late beloved Queen Victoria. He hoped tho executive would be instructed to draft such a vote, land forward it through the Governor to the Hight Hon. the Secretary for the Colonies. "With regard to the continued leakage in our membership, it was much to be regretted, and he intended to bring forward at a later stage a plan which he believed would go some way towards stopping it. He moved the reception and adoption of the District Executive's report. — Seconded by P.D C.R. Bro. Taverner, and agreed to.

Senior Auditor Bro. Gillies read the balance sheets and auditor's repoit,. Tho balances to the credit of the various district funds were : —Funeral fund. £8356 5s 2d ; management fund, £367 12s 3d ; district relief fund, £1353 18s 7d.

After some discussion the adoption of the balance sheets and report were agreed to.

COHRESPONDEXCE.

Fraternal greetings were received from the Otago District, M.TT 1.0.0. F .; and from the secretaries of several of the courts.

An appeal from the High Court was re eeived for subscriptions towards the Order's lifeboat fund. A circular was also read from the tame source urging upon the courts the desirability of making a strong effort to attain a membership of one million during tho current year. On the motion of P. C.R. Bro. Ine'is," it was agreed to donate the sum of £5 r,= tcwards the lifeboat fund

JUVEXILB DISTRICT.

T?y the permission of the meeting Bro Wil«on, the secretary of the Jmenile District of Otago and Southland, read the following annual report : — To the D.C.R. Officers and Deleg?tes of the

U.0.D. , A.OF

Sisters and Brothers, — It is with no little pleasure that I present this the sixth arrual leport of the Otago and. Southland District oi Juvenile Fores%i.=, while I regret that cv' numbers ars not grpater, there is some sat:--Saction in knowing, that our efforts have not Decn altogether fiuitless m adding to the membership of tho adult courts, which 13 one cf the main objects of our organisation. During the \ear ending Descmbor, 1900," 41 new mem-

Leis have been added. Dining the game pcrio 1 we have lost by d°ath one, over age and arrears 32, and by transfers to adult courts 17. Sick allowances amounting to £23 13s and funeral claims of £G have been paid, equal to 3s 10}<1 per member, being slightly over our last ypai's experience, 'liie ju\ eaile district would respectfully ur;e upon the delegates to use their influence with their lespective courts to take steps to pstab'i=h juvenile courts, if for no other motive than that of self-protection, as other orders are wakiag up to the advantages of juveniles as recruits to the adult branches, the number of memb°rs transferred to adult covuts being about 107 of the initiatives during the year. From 1896 the iuvemle cowrts of our district have transferred 152 members to the adult courts, equal to Is 3d of the increase of the U.O.D. dining the last quinquennium. In addition to the above reason, I ivoulcl rernmrl you that the majontv of juvenile members aie those whose parents are in no way connected with friendly societies, and this is th«ir only means of pioviding themselves with mrchcal attendance and medici/iv at a reasonable cost, as also wiifj the small sick allowance of 6s per weeli when unable to follow their usual employments. Ti ustmg you and the couits you lepres^ent will seriously consider this matter, and t^iat ere long every court m this district v. ill have a juvenile court attached to it, and through this means our ancient pad noble order tuav still further be strengthened and extended, — I am, etc.,

.Tohn Wilson, Secretary O. and S.J. District

P C R. Bro. Clark moved—" That the District Executive be empowered to vote a £iim annually to the Juvenile Foresters' Dibtrict ISvpputne."' The mover wished to alter 1 1 c motion to make the amount voted come direct from the district meeting instead ot the e\pcutn o Bio. Claik strongly u'-ged the adoption cl the motion for the sood of tl.o order,

The motion wa« seconded by P.r.1l Bro* Folley.

P.D. C.R. Bro. Youngman moved as en amendment that the delegates vote th ' -urn of £10 to the Juvenile District Exec ui\ c. This was supported by Bro-. Ciiins, Mr.imc. Folley, Robertson, Paterson, "William-, and othri-.

The amendment was opposed by P.D (' R. Bro. Mehille and Bros Brottel, Swnn-on, and Gibb.

'Hie amendment was carried by a laiga majority.

THE DISTRICT MEMBERS' FCVD

P. C.R. Bro T.uerner moved — "That a& taare may be m the near future a necessity to bring the district members' fund intc working condition, and as that find lias at present no money to its credit, this Di-trict Mooting thinks it desirable that a committee* be appointed now to consider the best method of placing the s?id fund in credit, so that it rray be in a position to meet demands when made upon it " The mm er stated that the fund in question w?= a fund only in name, and if fiom any cause members should be placed upon it, by the rules at present regulating it they could only receive their sickness allowance from the moneys they had paid in, which might only bo a few shillings. Happily, so far there had been no call upon tl)e fund, but it was unwise to allow such a state of things to continue.

P.D.C.R Bro Melville seconded the motion, which Vi as agreed to, and the following committee anpoirtod : — The District Executive and P.D.C.R.'s Bros Youngman, Mehille, Munro, Geddes, and P C.R. Bro. Tavern ev METSTIXGS r VLLIa'O OX HOLID VY E'S E<s. On the motion ot P.C R Bro. Cairns, it wn« agreed to emeod (lie law relating to corrfc n'ghis falling on public holidays so as to include the eve of any holiday, and thu= maka it legal to hold the meeting on any substquenn night before the H2\l legular meeting. Bro. Cairas desired to go farther, and give power to hold meetings befoie the regular date, urging that many members were lost to the order through their [>avmq scent on the ho'iday the money they should ha-\e paid fo>* contributions

COMTrLSOFT SOTA'EXCT,

Some ■very important rules were agreed tc, their obiect being to give the District Meeting rower to compel branches to have their assets and securities valued when there w&> any doubt as to their being of the value seti dov, rin the balance sheet. Also, when a oourt'-T assets showed it to come short of 17s 6:1 m the pound, the Di<=tr,ct Meeting is to hava power to compel such court to tales measures to bring itself up to that ManclarcT, In doing so, aspis+ance may be granted frooi the district relief fund where considered necessary.

XEXT DISTRICT JIEETIXG

It was decided by a large majority to ac nept the invitation of Court Pride of Oamar« to hold the next District Meeting in that town.

£LECTICOT OF OFFICERS.

The following were elected for the ensuing term :— D.C R , Bro. J. Hope ; D S C.R., Bro. W. Black; D. Treasurer. Bro. J. Macfie (re-elected) : D Secretary. Bro. W. Wpodlancl (re-elected) : D. Beadle, Bro A Swanson ; D. Trustee. Bro. W. H. Munro (reelected); D Auditor, Bro. G. W. Geddes. P.C.R.'s Bros. Cairns and Folley performed the duties of installing officers in a way which gained the applause of the meeting

The rrifelina: was then closed, having sat from 6 o'clock to half-past 7.

THE BANQUET

The visiting delegates were entertained afc a Laiquet in the evening at the White Horse Hotel, Milton, and as their deliberation', at; the annual meeting had extended right on from 10 o'clock to 7.30 p.m. everyone wa 1 ? ready to do justice to the excellent sp r>rd laid on the board by Host Ba-tings. B'-o. J. Hope presided, and about 50 or 60 =afc down. Th,e demands of hunger eventual^* being satisfied, the more festive portion of tho proceedings was entered on.

The Chairman gave the lorst of " Th» Kirg." and his Majesty's health was cordially honoured Bro Melville proposed " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," coupling the toast with ths name of Lieutenant M'Cb-moni; (B Company, 0.R.V.). who made suitable, reply. "The Agricultural Interests" v.as given by Bro J. Inglis, and replied to by Bro Melville. Bro. J. Dickson proposed "The District Executive," and paid a wpllmcriWl ti'but" to tl.o gentlemen who iruided the affairs cf the order. Th" Chairman, in rospording, took the opriort.inity of evnre c pin']r Ms appreciation of the honour memben hrd done him by electing him io ths position of District Chief Ranger, and pvomiVJ to oaTjr out the duties of the office to tho best cf his ability. Bro. Clark gfivr» " Th» Parliairort of New Zealand, '' * an'l Bro. TnvoniT replied. Otbar 'or.--ts v ■ -o : — "The. Sister Courts." driven by Bro FcT^y and r'?^nii('- I to by Brc Munro; " Th'? Visitinpr D^lcgatr-." giv 'ii by Bro. Dic'c-'in .md i-fr>l'f>d to !'■>- Bro. C'si'-n-; " Juvciilr* Cor.rr*." proy.oce-l by Bro. Youngman ane] rp-riiecl to by Bro Wilson: '"Court Bruc<\'* "The Pifiss," and "Our Ho=t " proposed by the Chairman aivl duly replied to During l''o pypriprr soncs wcr."> rruderecl by Mes-ri Black, M'Clvmoat. Wybpv Dielon, Bakings. Svan^or, nnd Burn-.: whih rcc!t~tions -were qi\c;i by Mes-srs .T. Parian^. Boyle, nnd Kooqh. Ai r-nioyable gathering wa» cut short by the rigidity of the licencing laws, and mo'i of the gentlempn present then e\tended their pn.tro.iage to a dance civen by tV members of Court Bruce in St. George^ H->ll, where a plensint hour or two was spent.

Thr> Dimedm delegates leturned to to>\n by Saturday 1 !- express.