FORESTEFS MEET

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 930, 25 March 1930, Page 9

FORESTEFS MEET

ANNUAL CONFERENCE TOMORROW The annual meeting of the Ancient Order of Foresters in the Auckland district will be held in the Foresters’ Hall tomorrow. Mr. A. G. Osborne, district chief ranger, presiding. The annual report states that the past year has been slightly more unfavourable than 1928. The calls on the sickness benefit funds were £SOO more than the previous year. The sum of £3,575 was paid out. Funeral allowances amounted to £530, an increase of £SO. Claims for payment of fees for public and private hospital treatment amounted to nearly £2,000, a considerable increase over the preceding year. It was considered that owing to the advance of medical, and more especially surgical, science, a larger number of members would continue to receive treatment much to their benefit. Although this meant larger calls on the hospital benefit, it was not a matter for complaint. The finances continued to be in a healthy state. The sick and funeral fund increased by £2,903. Members’ contributions increased by £215. The comparatively small increase in the accumulated funds was accounted for by the lesesned income from the Albert Street property, which has been in course of construction. The building was now finished, and was one of the finest buildings in the city. Unless Auckland met with some serious setback, which was hardly conceivable, the investment must greatly increase in value. The prevalence of so much unemployment called for much assistance during the year, which the executive had endeavoured to meet. The sum of £1,116 was paid to 186 members in maternity benefits, an increase of £240. The membership showed a steady increase, the net gain for the year being 133.