ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12738, 9 March 1910, Page 3 (Supplement)

ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS.

THE ANNUAL* DISTRICT MEETING. Yesterday morning at ten o'clock tho annual District meeting of the Foresters was opened in due form at the Foresters' Hall by Bro. W. J. Moffatt, the District Chief Ranger. The other officers present were :—District Sub-Chief Ranger Bro. G. E. Perkins (Greymouth) ; District Secretary Bro. R. Hunter ; District Treasurer Bro. A. Dodson (Wakapuaka) j and District Beadle Bro. P. Martin. The undermentioned delegates presented their" credentials, and took their seats: — Court Robin Hood: Bros. W. T. Bond, P.D.C.R. ; H. Bethwaite, P.D.C.R. : and John N. Easdalo, P.C.R. Court Pride of the Forest: Bro. R. C. Withers, P.D.C.R. Court Sherwood Forest: Bro. James Ching, P.D.C.R. Court Perseverance : Bro. J. W. King, P.C.R. Court Aorere: Bro. G. H. Allan, P.C.R.j and Bro. J. A. Miles, P.C.R. Court Royal Oak : Bro. T. D." Milne. Court Concord : Bro. H. D. James, P.C.R. . Court Inangahua: Bro. E. J. Scantlebury, P.D.C.R. ■-.-•■■• Cou-rt Charleston, Bro. A. King, P.C.R.. Court Unity : Bro. George Pope, P.C.B. Court Karamea: Bro. E. B. Issell, P.C.R. Resolved on the motion of Bro. King (Charleston), seconded by Bro. Scantlebury (Reefton) — That this meeting adjourn for a time as a token of respect to the memory of the late Bros. E. Coumbe and James Collins, P.C.R., who were drowned when the- s.s. Penguin was wrecked on tli© night & February 12th, 1909 ; (2) that the photographs of the late brothers be procured, if possible, and the same be framed and hung in the hall.. On the meeting resuming, the District Auditors' report, and the statement of accounts were read. Resolved on tho motion of Bro. Miles (Oollingwood) and Bro. Scantlebury, that the report and statement of accounts be adopted. The District Chief Ranger gave his report. He noted that the funds of the courts in the District showed an increase of -£B29> 4s lOd, and the financial members an increase of 19, being 943 as compared with 924. With the female members and Juveniles added, the total membership was 1054. The worth of the District body stands at £916 3s 4d, and of the courts at '£23,455 18s 6d, thus giving a grand .total' of £24,372 Is 10d.. During the past'year thirteen members and four .members'. wives/,haye passed away, and £455 was paid away from the 'Funeral FuucV. For "tao ' past year

£1343 9s lid was disbursed in sick pay, and £992 12s lOd paid for medical attendance. The average amount per member paid in sick pay by the several courts was;— Court Perseverance 2 9 2 Court Robin Hood ... ... 1W J Court Pride of the Forest... 1W 3 C«uit Unity - . »• } ° * Court Sherwood Forest ... 1 o 6 Court Royal Oak 0 19 9 Court Charleston, Q j^ o Court Concord ... - 017 b Court Aorere 0 lb 5 Court Karamea W ■ L<s 4 The report also touched upon, the question of the establishment of a Subsidiary High Court for the Dominion. , , i It was unanimously resolved that tho District Chief Ranger be thanked for his report, and that the report be embodied in the printed account of the meeting's proceedings. The following telegram was received from the Oddfellows, who were holding their District meeting at Richmond: — "Nelson District of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, extend fraternal greetings. Wish you a successful .meeting. — Peter Higgins, Grand Master." The following reply was despatched: — "Heartily reciprocate your fraternal greetings.- — W. J. Moffatt, District CMef Ranger." Accounts were passed for payment amounting to £60 4s 9d, of which £42 3s was to meet the expenses of the District meeting; The correspondence received regarding the proposal to establish a Subsidiary High Court for New Zealand was read and considered. The Tarajiaki district passed a resolution affirming the opinion "That the formation of a Subsidiary High Court is of urgent importance." Tlie Auckland district passed a resolution in favour of the proposal, "believing that It would be for the benefit of the order in New Zealand." The Canterbury United district has relegated the question to its district executive to collect information, in order to place same before the district meeting in April. The Wellington district is seeking for information as to the advantages that will accrue from the formation of the. Higher Court. The Otago and Hawko's Bay districts will have the matter discussed at their annual district meetings. It was unanimously 'resolved on the motion of Bro. Scantlebury (Reefton) seconded by Bro. Allan (Collingwood), "That this District meeting reaffirms the desirability of the establishment of a Subsidiary High Court for New Zealand. That the. District Secretary be instructed to forward the necessary information .asked for by some of the districts, also that in case of a favourable reply being received from a majority of the districts in New Zealand, the Wellington district be asked to convene a meeting representative of the various districts to be held in Wellington, as being most central, to take steps for the formation of a Subsidiary High Court;" It was resolved on the motion of Bro. Bethwaite, seconded by Bro. Perkins, "That this meeting regrets the death of our late Bro; Robert Nicol, one of the District Trustees} and desires to place on record its re<cognition of the valuable services rendered by deceased to the order." The District Chief requested the delegates to stand while the motion was put. It was resolved that Bros; W. H. Alborough, H. Bethwaite, W. T» Bond, Jas. Ching, Geo. Dodson, Ai Dodson, M. B. Condell, E. Fleming, E. Gill, C. J. Harley, W. V. Salter, and 11. C. Withers, compose tho District Arbitration Committee. It was resolved that Bros. Finhey and Alborough be re-elected as tlie District Auditors. It was resolved that Bro. L. J. Frank be elected as a District Trustee iv the place of the late Bro. R. Nicol, deceased. It was resolved that the levies be ten shillings per member for the Funeral Fund, five shillings in tho first half year, and five shillings in the second half, but should it be deemed unnecessary, the whole of the second payment be not called up. (The ten shillings was voted to meet any unforeseen demand, but if the District officers find that .seven shillings^ and sixpence per member is sufficient, only 2s 6d per member will be called up in the second half year). The levy to the Management Fund to be two shillings per member, in half yearly payments. The election of officers resulted as follows :— Bro. G. E. Perkins, of Court Concord (Greymouth), was elected as District Chief Ranger, and Bro. Johii N. Easdale, Court Robin Hood, was elected as District SubChief Ranger. After the new officers had been installed, they thanked the brethren for conferring upon them the honours of the respective positions. It was resolved on the motion of Bro. Withers, seconded by Bro. Miles, that a vote of thanks be accorded to Bro. Moffatt, the retiring District Chief Ranger, and that nis name be placed on the District merit board, and his photograph be added to those of the Past District Chief Rangers; also that Bro. Moffatt be accorded the honours of the order. On the motion being carried, the Foresters' fire was given, Bro. Easdale acting as fugleman. < Bro. Moffatt, P.D.C.R., heartily thanked the brethren for their kindly remarks and the honour shown Mm. He had had a pleasant time in the ohair, and had received the hearty support of his colleagues on the District Executive. He was sorry that Bro. Poole, who had long filled the position of District Beadle, was laid by through sickness. Bro. Bond was requested to prepare a brief notice of the last High Court meeting, to be inserted in the printed proceedings. Bro. Scantlebury, of Court Inangahua, gave notice to amend General Rule 39, section one. sub section b, by adding the following words, "and such payments as may be considered by the Court to be best conducive to tbc '.vclfare of the Qrder." The meeting, which lasted from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., was closed in due form by the new D.C.R. At one o'clock the officers and delegates dined together at the Commercial Hotel.