ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9097, 15 February 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING. The annual meeting of the Nelson District was held at the Foresters' Hall on Feb. "J th, when the following officers and delegates were present — District Chief Ranger, Bro J. East ; D. Sub-Chief, Bro J. A. Harley ; D. Secretary, Bro Robeit Hunter; D. Treasurer, Bro Arthur Dodson; D., Beadle, Bro William Pooie ; and the following Courts were represented : — Robin Hood (Nelson) : Bros Bond and Finney. Pride of the Forest (Wakapuaka); Bros Thomas Small and Henry "Wastney. Sherwood Forest (Stoke): Bros James Cbing and W. Kenning. Perseverance (Motueka); Bros Moffatt and Gilbert. Aorere (Collingwood) : Bros G. H. Allan and Stevens. Royal Oak (Westport) ; Bro Slater. Charleston (Westport) ; Bro Frank Stallard. Unity (Havelock): Bros Matthews and Wheadon. Concord (Greymouth) ; Bros Perkins and Thompson. Inangahua (Reefton): BroW.B. Condell. The District Officers' report showed the total worth of the f uuds to be— £ s. d. Courts 14,010 13 11 District.. „ .. 1,401 8 2 Female Court .. .. 21 IJ 17 2 Juvenile Courts .. 181 0 0 Total .. .. £1-3,861 1!) 3 The total membership was shown to be — Courts 751 Female Court . . . . 62 Juvenile Courts . . . . 57 Total 870 During the past year the membership had increased by forty, exclusive of the Female and Juvenile Courts. During the same period the funds of the Courts had increased by £684 9s lOd. The report was adopted. The Auditors' report showed that £170 had been paid during the year on the deaths of four members and three wives of members, being £10 in excess of the sum paid the preceding year. The total worth of the District was shown to be— £ s. d. Funeral Fund .. .. 1149 10 7 Management Fund . . 166 6 7 Goods in stock . . . . 88 11. 8 Total £1404 8 2 The report was adopted. Resolved, That the levies for this year be three shillings to the Funeral Fund, and two shillings to the Management Fund. Resolved, That Bros Scantlebury and Perkins be thanked for their exhaustive reports on the Courts visited by them at the request of the District officers. Bro Stallard moved the following, of which he had given notice previously,— "That members belonging to two Orders may pay their medical pence into either of the Orders to which they belong, if the members affected wish it." After some discussion the motion wes adopted. A motion to restrict the number of delegates to attend the District meeting to one for each Court was lost by ten to six votes. Bro Moffatt proposed two additions to General Law No. 80. One to allow any person to pay half the graduated scaleof contributions, for which he shall receive half the present amount of sick payment, and funeral benefit ranging from £4 to £10, and on the death of his wife £4. The other was in the direction of allowing any member to procure increased benefits by paying additional contributions. Both clauses to be optional. After some discussion the propositions were adopted. Bro Gilbert proposed, That the District officers during the recess take into consideration the question of establishing the Funeral Fund upon a sound financial principle in substitution of the present levy system, and obtain an acturial report upon tbe question, the whole to be considered at the next District Meeting. Bro Perkins brought before the meeting the desire of Court Pride of Kumara to affiliate with the Nelson district. It was resolved that an answer could not be given until the next District Meeting, and that the Court in ejuestion must satisfy the District Meeting with an acturial report based upon the benefits given in the Nelson District that the Court's financial position was sufficiently sound. Attention was drawn to the quinquennial valuation. It was resolved on the motion of Bro Gilbert that each Court showing a deficiency should take immediate steps to make its financial position sound, either by increasing the contributions or reducing the sick day. It was resolved upon the District officers hearing from the other Districts in the Colony, that they frame'a General Law with a view to secure uniformity upon the question of clearances. Bros Alborough, Bond, Condell, James Ching, G. Dodson, A. Dodson, E. Finney, '. E. Gill, Heyward, Salter, Slater, and Simp- • son were elected as the District Arbitration Couuuittee. Bros E. Finney and Alborough were elected as Auditors. Bro J. A. Harley was elected as Distriot Chief Ranger unopposed. Bro Harley in a neat speech returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him. Bro T. Small was elected District Sub Chief Ranger. The newly elected officers were duly installed. It was resolved that Bro John East's photograph be taken, and added to those of the Past District Chief Rangers, also tbat his name be placed on the District Merit Board. The meeting was closed in due form by the District Chief Ranger, Bro Harley, the delegates having sat about six hours. At one o'clock the officers and delegates adjourned to the Royal Hotel, where they dined together. They were all pleased with the capital spread provided for them by Bro W. R. Parmenter.