FORESTERS FALL OUT.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17493, 29 August 1928, Page 8

FORESTERS FALL OUT.

WAIKATO COURT SECEDE. DISTRICT OFFICERS’ VIEWS. EXPULSION PROBABLE. \ meeting of members of Court Pride of Waikato, Ancient Order of Foresters, was held last evening. The District Chief Ranger, Mr W. A. Knaggs, presided and with him was the district secretary, Mr IL Darlow. The District Chief Ranger explained that the meeting was called in fulfilment of a duty of the district executive Owing to the violation of the rules of the society and the disloyal attempt to form another society, it had become his duty to suspend the court from all benefits of the society. Complete expulsion would probably follow. Before expulsion was complete the opportunity would be open to members not participating in the recent disloyal proceedings to decide whether they would elect to retain their membership in the Order. Very few members attended, it being stated that the members had met and had decided not to attend the meeting last night. Central Body Defied. Mr Robert Darlow, secretary of the Auckland District, Ancient Order of Foresters, in an interview with a Waikato Times reporter slated that the affairs of the local branch had caused the central body much uneasiness for a long time.. Owing to continued breach of the "rules and repeated defiance of authority the central body was reluctantly compelled to intervene. Every opportunity had been given tlie members to obey the rules. Sucli obedience was imperative in any self-respecting body, but where there was continued defiance there was only one remedy—namely, expulsion. Regarding the meetings reported to have been held under tlie title of “Court City of Waikato,” Mr Darlow said no such court existed, or could lie brought into existence. It was open to any number of persons to form a hew society and, providing they complied with the requirements of the Friendly Societies Act they could obtain registration. , “What 1 wish to make clear is that no Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters can be established except by the body governing the district, ’ added Mr Darlow. * , “It is regrettable that such wild statements have been issued in connection with Court Pride of Waikato, but I do not think any good purpose would be served by discussion in tlie public press. lam pleased to know that the court established last year, Couit Goncord," is making good progress and is worthily upholding the high reputation of our Order.”