NELSON DISTRICT, A.O.F.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13049, 8 March 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

NELSON DISTRICT, A.O.F.

The annual meeting of the Nelson District, A.0.F., was held in the Foresters' Hall yesterday. Bro G. E. Perkins, D.C.R., presided, and delegates were present as follows :—Court Robin Hood, Bros. AY. Douglas, P.D.C.R., H. AY. Bethwaite, P.D.C.R., and J. H. Finney; Court Pride of the Forest, Bro. A. Small, P.C.R.; Court Sherwood Forest, Bro. J. Ching, P.D.C.R.; Court Pea-severance, Bro. J. AY. King, P.C.R.; Court Aorere, Bros. G. H. Allan, P.C.R., and J. A Miles, P.C.R,; Court Royal Oak, Bro. AY. Champion, P.C.R.; Court Concord, Bro. H. D. James, P.C.R.; Court Inaiigaliua, Bro. E. J. Scantlebury, P.D.C.R,; Court Charleston, Bro. A. King, P.C.R,; Court Unity, Bro. R, F. Crespin, P.C.R.; Court Karamea, Bro. Thomas Curtin, junior.

Tho following district officers were also present:—District Secretary, Bro. R. Hunter; District Treasurer, Bro. Arthur Dodson ; a.nd District Beadle, Bro. P. Martin.

Bro. J. Ching, P.D.C.R,, in the absence of Bro. J. N, Easdale, occupied • lie D.S.C.R.'s chair.

The auditor's report and balance sheet were read and adopted on the motion of Bros. E. J. Scantlebury, P.D.C.R,, and AY. Douglas, P.D.C.R. The balance sheet showed that tlie total worth of the funds of the District was £1085 5s 10, divided as follows: — Funeral fund, £954 Is 7d; management fund, £68 7s lOd ; value of goods in stock, £62 16s sd. The funeral fund showed an increase of £84 17s during tlie half year. During the same period funeral claims amounting to £55 were paid on account of tho doath of one member and two members wives.

The D.C.I', presented his report as follows: —It affords me much pleasure to meet you at the present meeting, and I beg to heaitily welcome you all. During my term of office nothing of great moment has occurred, therefore I havr< had a fairly easy time. It is a pleasure to be able to report an increase of both funds and membership .during, the year. All the Courts except one show an increase in funds, the total for-the whole district being £820 12s lOd, and the membership has increased by 11, and now stands at 954. 1 would like to see an effort made by courts during the present year to try and reach the 1.000 by next annual meeting. The sick pay has been greater than tho previous year, showing an average of £1 12s lid, against £1 8s 6d per member for the year. Five members and five members' wives have died during tho year, against 13 and 4 last year, which is a bin drop, and I am pleased to state that it was only necessary to call up 2s 6d of the levy to tho funeral fund for the second half year. I regret to say that very littlo progress has been made towards the establishment of a subsidiary high court for the Dominion. Tlie correspondence will be placed before- you, aiid I hope the meeting will not let the, matter rest as at its present state, as in my opinion the order will not make the progress warranted to such an important body in the friendly societies of the Dominion until such body is an established fact. 1 regret to report that we lost one of our old and valued trustees by death during the year, viz Bro. Francis Trask, and it will be n-jcossary for you to appoint a successor at-this meeting. The absence of our worthy Sub Chief through illness is also to be regretted, and I am sure you all join with me in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery. One or more of the district officers have visited Courts Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest, Pride of the Forest, and Perseverance at their annual meetings. Reports of siich visits will bo read to you. In addition to this I have had the pleasure of officially visiting Courts Pride of- the Forest, Unity, Royal Oak, Charleston, Concord, Inangahua, Aorere, and Robin Hood. You will therefore see that the only court in this district that has not been visited during the year is the court at Karamea, and had the communication there been at all reasonable, no doubt this court would have also bcon visited. My visits to the various courts will carry some pleasant recollections for years to come, and I can assure future Chief Rangers that if they follow my example, tho pleasure they will derive from such visits will compensate them for the time and cost of such visits. Taking the courts al) round I found the business conducted fairly well. The courts in the district are particularly fortunate in having, with one exception, secretaries of more than ordinary ability, and the district is to bo congratulated thereon. On my visit to Court Charleston the night following my visit to the Royal Oak I was accompanied by P.D.C.R. Bro Robert Simpson, the C.R.,S.C.R. Bros Peterson and Champion of Court Royal Oak, and Bro King, of Court Charleston, but now residing at AVestport. AYe received a hearty welcome, and enjoyed out outing to the fullest extent, returning to AVestport the following day. I beg to take the present opportunity of thanking these brothers for accompanying me on that occasion, also I beg to thank Bro Allan for his kindness during my visit to Coliingwood. In ■ conclusion I would also thank my colleagues for their hearty, support and assistance during my term of office, and especially Bro Bethwaite, who acted for me at the monthly meetings I could not attend, and thus enabled me to qualify for the office according to the rules. I hope and trust that my services have proved and will bo of some future benefit to the district. ■ On the motion, of Bros H. AY. Bothwaite and A. Small, the D.C.R. was thanked for his report, and it was resolved that tho same be printed in the minutes.

Bro Crespin (Court Unity) expressed gratification that the D.C.R. had visited so many of the courts during his term of office, and he desire^ to

express his thanks to tho D.C.R. on bejiali, of Ins court. The icports by the district officers on visits to vanciib couitb were lead and adopted. , On tlie motion of the D.C.R. and Bio li. AY. iJetuwaitc a telegram eon\o;w'ig irateinal gimtings wak ioiwarded to the Ocldfjllons in distnet meeting assembled at Wakeheld. Cri tlie motion of the D.C.R.., stcended by Bro A. King, it was unsolved that a letter of sjmpathv l>3 ton\aided to Bro AW 11.I 1. Bond in his lece-nt beiea\omeut, and expiesf ing logiefc at his absence irom the inivting. 'I ho mover s.a'l that Bn» Bond liad been a delegate lor many yoais pisl, and id wa,s tlie hifct mi .'ting he Jiad not attended tor a \ei\ leu,, tiit o. On tilt- mutum ~1 JslO a 11. AA r. Betllwaite and J. AY. King it was resolved that a letter of sympathy be forwarded to Bio J. N. Easdale, D.S.C.R., m his illness, and expressing regret at Ins .absence from the meeting. On the motion of the D.U.R., sec-. oncbd by .Bro Jas. Clung, it was resolved to place on record tlie regret of the delegates present at the death of the late Bro F. Trask, who was a district trustee for many years, (lhe district officers forwarded a letter of sympathy to Mrs Trask at the monthly meeting following the death cf Bro Trask.) The action of the district officers m ■allowing Com', Royal Oak to alter its place oi meeting from McMaster s Hall to the Friendly Societies Hail, Palmers/ton street, AVestport, and Court Karamea from the school master's house to the "Old .Karamea" hotel was approved. .It was^ stated that tlw friendly societies at Wostport had built a two-storied building, with shops on the ground lloor, and a fine meeting room upstairs. Bro Scantlebui-y reported on his visit to AVestport in regard to reduction of medical fees. Bro Champion stated that better arrangements had bee.n made with tho chemist, and it was hoped in the near future to secure a reduction in medical- fees.

A telegram was received from Bro AY. J. Moffatt, P.D.C.R., convoying fraternal greetings and wishing all a pleasant and profitable time. On the motion of the P.C.R,, seconded by Bro Bethwaite, the meeting complimented Court Unity on adopting the recommendation passed at last district meeting in regard to the division of the funds.

Accounts amounting to £60 3s were passed for payment. The D.C.R. declined to accept a refund of the travelling expenses incurred by him in visiting tho. outside courts. He said it had afforded him very great pleasure, a.nd he had been glad to visit the Courts in the interests of the order.

At this stage of the meeting a telegram was received from Bro AY. H. Prebble, Grand Master of the Oddfellows, heartily reciprocating the greetings, and wishing the Foresters con-tinued-prosperity. On the motion of Bro Scantlebury, seconded by Bro Bethwaitn, it was resolved: "That this district regrets that the replies received from the various districts throughout the Dominion with regard to the establishment of a subsidiary high court for New Zealand were not of a. more favourable nature, as this district is still of the some opinion that the establishment of the subsidiary high court for NewZealand would mean increased advantages to its members at a small cost, also in treating with tho _ Government, as is often necessary, in the interests of all courts would be dealt with more«\xpeditiously and effectively ; also uniformity of rules, benefits, contributions, clearance, and better medical arrangements ; that the district secretary be instructed to again communicate with the various districts throughout New Zealand, with a viow to calling a meeting of representatives of the various districts to be held in Wellington during the ensuing year, to thoroughly discuss thei matter." It was resolved, on the motion of the D.C.R., seconded by Bro Finney, that the levy to the funeral fund for tile ensuing year Ik> 10s, payable in half yearly instalments, but should the fund be found sufficiently strong at the end of the first half year the amount to be called up be left to the discretion of tlie district officers.

On the motion of tho D.C.R., seconded by Bro Bethwaito, it was decided that tho levy to the management fund be 2s.

Bros AY. H. Alborough and J. H. Finney wove re-elected auditors. It was resolved that the fallowing compose the District- Arbitration Committne: Bros AY. H. Alborough, H. AY. Bethwaite, AY. T. Bond, Jas Ching, G. Dodson, A. Dodson, AY. B. Condell, IC. B. Fleming, E. Gill, C. J. Hurley, AY. V. Salter, and R. - C. Withers.

In accordance with notice given Bro Scantlebury moved that general rule No 39, section 1, sub section b, ba amended to road an follows: "And such payments as may be considered by the- court to be best conducive to tlie v.'jjfare of the order, such payment to be limited to a sum to be the assistance of every member, members' wives, and their families." After some discussion Bro Scantlebury obtained permission to withdraw the notice of motion.

It was resolved that 300 copies of the minutes of the proceedings be printed and circulated among the courts.

On tho motion of Bro E. J. Scantlebury, seconded by Bro AY. Douglas, it was resolved that Bro J. N. Easdale be elected as D.C.R.

On the motion of Bro J. AA 7. King seconded by Bio J. A. Miles, Bro G. H. Allan was elected D.5.C.11.

It was rocolved, on the- motion of Bro J. H. Fitinoy, seconded by Bro J. Ching, that the name of Bro Perkins, P.D.C.R., be placed on the merit b:>ard, and that his photograph be placed with those of other P.D.C.R.'s.

Bro Allan was duly installed as D.S.C.R., and suitably acknowledged his election to the position. On tlie motion of Bro Bethwaite, seconded by Bro Miles, it was resolved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Bro Perkins, P.D.C.R,, for his services during his term of office as D.C.R.

Several matters arrecting the welfare of courts were-discussed, and the meeting closed in due form.