Ancient Order of Foresters.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7070, 16 February 1893, Page 2

Ancient Order of Foresters.

COURT SOUTHERN CROSS, No. 3183.

The annual meeting of the above court was held on Tuesday evening at the Foresters' Hall, George Street. Bro. W. Eawstorn, O. presided, and there was a fair attendance of members. Various correspondence was read and dealt with. The woodwards' report on the sick members was of a favourable nature, no serious cases being reported. The officers* action in regard to an old member’s sick pay was sustained. It was unanimously resolved to join the association for the interchange of medical benefits. The secretary road the district bolance-sheet for last year, which showed all the funds to be in a flourishing condition. He also read the auditors' report and copies of the resolutions adopted at the annual district- meeting at Waimate. One resolution was of great importance, being a suggestion to the various courts to found superannuation funds for the relief of old or inoapactated members. Acting on the recommendation of the District Bro. Jacob Hill, P. during the evening handed in a notice of motion to bo taken up the next quarterly meeting, the second week ia April. It is hoped that members will lake great interest in this subject, bearing as it does so directly on the question of old age or sickness pensions. The auditors, Bros, J. Burford, P.0.E., and C. O. Vogeler, presented the balance-sheet and report for the year 1892. All the funds were in a healthy conditionContributions to the sick and funeral fund amounted to £374 13s, interest on loans and fixed ‘deposits £l2l 9s 9d, sick pay to the amount of £240 10s 8i was paid, also funeral pay £32. The netgain of this fund for the year was £282 9s 4d. The manogement fund showed a credit balance of over £B, and had held its own during the year. The contributions to this fund amounted to £440 5s 9fl. The hall fund showed a profit of nearly £SO, after paying rates, gas and all other expenses. The newlystarted incidental fund had a credit of £9.3s 6d. The total assets of the court amounted to £5804 19a sd. The membership has increased from 267 in January to 300 at 31st December; 24 members were admitted and 11 left; one member died, also one member’s wife. The total number of days’ sickness was 1954; number of members sick 53, three being sick the whole year. ihe average amount of sick-pay as for the whole of the members was 16a 6d. The present numbers on the books are as follows: Benefit members 300, members of other courts 9, honorary members 21, members' widows 9, members’ daughters 49, total 388. During the evening two persons were elected honorary members and duly initiated into the ancient rites and ceremonies of the order. 2be initiation was conducted by Bro. Bawstorn, C.B, ably assisted by Bro. J. S. Bennett, P D.C.B. The receipts for the evening were £2O. The court was closed in the usual manner by the C.B.