CONFERENCE OF FORESTERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2689, 8 February 1916, Page 3

CONFERENCE OF FORESTERS

A SUBSIDIARY HIGH COURT. {By Telegranh.—l-'rc'si. AMoelatlO'aj Auckland, February 7. A conference that will become historic in the annals of the Ancient Order of Foresters was opened in Auckland this morning, the occasion the constituting of a subsidiary High Court | for New Zealand. This objective has | been aimed _at for over twenty-five years, and it is only ,-now that self- ] contained authority has been established in the Dominion. It was unanimously resolved: "That this meeting of duly accredited delegates from the several districts named i below do now formally establish a ' Subsidiary High Cout;t for New Zea- J land, and empowers the Executive j Council to be now elected to do all ! things necessary to register same under the Friendly Societies Act of c New Zealand." The following High Court officers were ' elected:—High Court Chief Ranger, " Bro. James Shaldrick (Auckland); SubChief Ranger, Bro. -Allen (Nelson); Treasurer, Bro. Tunbridge (Taranaki); Secretary, Bro. Darlow (Auckland); Senior Woodward, Bro. Wilson (Otago); 5 Junior Woodward, Bro. Marks (Canter- I bury); Senior Beadle, Bro. Redsliaw t (Hawke VBay); Junior Beadle, Bro. s Barnes (Auckland). t In his inaugural address tho High { Court Ranger said the objective which had been consummated that day dated back 26 years.. He paid a tribute to the .brethren of Napier and Nelson for the interest they had displayed during ( the early days. After protesting against t the unfair competition of the National ; Provident Fund, the presiding Ranger said that the Auckland Friendly So- e cicties had,taken the lead in placing l the full position before tho Government, t and they were relying tliafc later on tho r representatives of Friendly Societies would nicet to consider the' question of e the relation of the State to. the Friendly Society movement. Everybody admitted the good work of the societies in the past,, and it behoved tliem to see that the strength of the societies was maintained. He trusted that the conference would provide machinery for the interchange of clearances, whereby a Forester in Auckland would be a Forester in ]. any part of the Dominion. Six out of o the eight districts in New Zealand had v joined in the Subsidiary Court moveinent, and were represented to-day, although he felt that it would have been f, much better if they had attained com- 4 plete unity by all districts coming in. g However, the two standing out may yet see the advantage of unity, and come B in to complete the family circle. The membership of the several districts composing the High Court was nearly 12,000, - having accumulated funds amounting to over £300,000. Provision had been made for safeguarding tlio j, funds of each district so as to allay c j fears expressed bv some who were join- rj ing in the Subsidiary Court movement that they would be losing control of their funds. B ===== b