FORESTERS’ REPORT

Evening Star, Issue 20136, 28 March 1929, Page 15

FORESTERS’ REPORT

UNITED OTAGO DISTRICT The following extracts hare been taken from the annual report of the Otago District Executive of the Ancient Order of Foresters, which will be presented to delegates at the annual meeting at Roxburgh on Saturday:—■ The previous mooting held at Roxburgh was in 1916, when forty-three delegates represented twenty-one courts with 2,907 members, while this year there will be eighty-two delegates representing twenty-nine courts with 5,097 members. The funds of the district in 1916 amounted to £73,161 us sd. At the end of 1928 they had increased to £127,342 6s lid, and the district'is in a particularly healthy state. During 1928 the membership increased by 138, and is now 5,097. There were 493 entrants last year, but unfortunately the loss by arrears was heavy, no fewer than 316 members being struck off the books. This is a problem which is causing the leading friendly societies much concern, as while it is not difficult to obtain new members it is hard to retain them. There were thirty-nine deaths during the past year. Court Bride of the Leith again showed the largest net increase in membership, gaining 30, with Courts Pride of Clutha. Valley (28), King Edward’s Pride (24), and Star of the Dunstan with 23. The latter court is specially congratulated on its magnificent progress last year. As it is an isolated court, in Clyde, the members are commended for the fine work they performed in the interests of the district. The financial position of the district is now very sound. The total funds of the district amounted to £127,342 Gs lid, from which has to he deducted £3,449 Os 7d in the central investment fund, which leaves the district funds to be £123,893 6s 4d, an increase over the previous year of £5,810 19s 3d, The amount of interest collected was £7.037 19s 4d. The claims for funeral allowances amounted to £l,lBO. which was £215 oyer the same for 1927. The sickness experienced last year was above normal, and the total sick pay to’ members was £5,353 14s 7d, and total sickness -was 10,364 weeks. The average per member for the whole district was a shade over two weeks, and the average cost per member was £1 Is, a reduction of 4xl per member as compared with the previous year. The memorial membership shield was won last year by Court Pride of Clutha. Valley, with a ratio of increase of 42.2 per cent. This court now has the distinction of winning the shield for three consecutive years. Court Star of the Dunstan, at Clyde, gained second place with a ratio of increase of 38 per cent. The memorial scholarship prize was won last year by Master William Alexander Cherry, whose father is a member of Court Excelsior. The Court Pride of the Lcifh membership cop was won last year by Court Pride of Clutha Valley, which court had the largest net increase of members (by initiation only), twenty-seven, with Courts Star of the Dunstan and King Edward’s Pride with twenty-two each. This is the first occasion that both the membership shield and this enp have been secured bv the same court. A general efficiency competition was Imld on two occasions last year among all _ courts, and the results are very satisfactory, each branch now showing a high standard of working. Official visits were' paid by the executive officers to a number of branches all over the district, and they report good progress in each of the branches visited. The Juvenile Conned of the' district i>y its report states that the membership 15 now with funds amounting to £722 19s sd. A new court for boys was opened by Court Litfe John last year, and there arc now nineteen juvenile branches throughout the district under the control of the council. There is every prospect of a successful branch heiug opened iu Afilton shortlv. Tho Follev memorial membership shield was won by Court B'tar of Gore with a ratio of increase’ of 4 7.9 per cent. Last year sixtv-Cour youthful members were admitted into adult branches.