FORESTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1917, Page 7

FORESTRY.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF 'DELEGATES. 'At Stratford, on Tuesday, the various Courts throughout Taranaki met at the Forests' Hall. D.C.R. Bro. J. D. Murray (Stratford) was in the chair, and other district officers present were: D.S.O.R. Bro. N. A. Kyle ('Waitara), D.W. Bro. R. H. Geddes (Inglewood), tt'B. Bro. H. Ward (Court WaireJca, New Plymouth), District Treasurer Bro. H. R. Oattley (Court Taranaki, New Plymouth), and District Secretary Bro, C. J. Tunbridge (Court Waireka, New Plymouth). Delegates: P.D.CiR. Bro. G. Braund and P.C.'R. Bro. J. Parker (Court Waireka, New Plymouth), P.D.C.R. Bro. Alf. Coldwell (Inglewood), P.D.O.R. Bro. G. Burgess (Stratford), P.GR. Bro. W. H. Kiidge (Hawera), P.C.R. Bro. W. Draper (Waitara), P.D.C.R. 'Bro. A, J. Way (Court Taranaki, New Plymouth), P.C.R. Sister Klvell (Court Pride of New Plymouth), and Sister Watkins (Lady Islington, Stratford). P.CJR. Bros, J. Andrews (Eltham) and P. Hunter (Stratford) attended as visitors.

DISTRICT OFFICERS' REPORT. The chairman read a comprehensive report on the work of tha district during the past six mouths. Up to the present I the Court had been represented by 169 members at the front, and more were leaving. Should the Government decide to call up youths of 19 and also the Second Division the Court would need to go into the matter of providing for these claims, and also to provide the (necessary sums 'to keep the wives and ohildren of members of the expeditionary force clear, so that they could receive the privileges of doctor and chemist. The war was now going on to its •fourth year, and the district had done very well. They had paid £538 19s in insurance premiums on war members, and this was making a big drain on the district funds. £.150 had also been paid in death dues in respect of members at the front, and there were other claims arising when the death certificates had come to hand. Courts were beginning to feel the pinch of the war. The National Provident Fund and maternity benefit scheme by the Government also required Consideration. Mention was niaße of the fact that P.DC.R. Bro. A. Coldwell had been appointed High Court treasurer to the Subsidiary Court. Regret was expressed at the resignation of D.S.C.R. Bro. N. A. Kyle (Palmerston North) of his position as secretary of the Waitara Court, and appreciation of his efforts on behalf of the Order was placed on record. Bro. Coldwell, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, congratulated the officers on the comprehensive report submitted. Bro. Draper seconded, and it was carried.

TUNBRIDGE MEMORIAL. It was reported that a very nice I obelisk had been erected over the grave of the late District Secretary, Bro. C. J. Tunbridge, and framed photographs of i the brother forwarded to each Court. GENERAL. A levy of Is '6d is to be made on the sick and funeral fund, to be credited to the war fund for insurance. The next meeting will tie held at Inglewood in February. Bro. Sidney Cottier, New Plymouth, wus electe dto succeed P.D.C.R. Bro. Geo Weston (at the front) as trustee. •NOTICE OF MOTION. Bro. Ooldwell's notice of motion, "That any member desiring to join the Government National Provident Fund shall, in addition to the amount of weekly contributions, contribute such sums as are required, to be returned to contributing members at the age of 60." In moving his motion, Bro. Coldwell stated it was a Government scheme, and for the sum of 4d per 'week the recipient would from the age of 60 receive a payment of 10s per week. By the Courts paying £55 the man had no claim on sick pay. He would still pay to the Court, and the speaker thought that £56 was not too high. In joining,'the contributions increased as the age of the candidates went up, until at the age of £2 a charge of Is lid per week was made. The chairman stated there were many who had perused the regulations and failed to thoroughly understand the position. Bro. Andrews said that on the scale of rates fixed it looJced as if the Government desired to have only young members, as the rates greatly favored the younger member, and a. man of 42 would find better returns for the same insurance money.

Bro. Way wished to know whether the adoption of the rules would be any ;'detriment to the Court.

The chairman said he could not answer the question. The warhad to be considered, and one did not know how things would go. Bro. Geddes siad it was a vital point. The different Courts were liable to pay the £55 to every member. The motion was then put and carried.

MATERNITY BONUSES. The chairman drew attention to the payments of maternity bonuses. Some of the courts were slow in paying these amounts. Numerous claims had been made, showing that members appreciated this benefit. The 'Registrar of Societies forged that these claima should be paid promptly, whilst the executive recommended that the claims should he paid out of the sick and funeral fund. Bros. Burgess, Coldwell, and Way supported, the first mentioned staging that people iu straitened circumstances found the £4 of great service. The chairman, in explanation, stated that the Government paid these amounts. In the first instance the Court granted the amounte, and then, on heing forwarded to the Government, the latter in due course refunded the totals to the Courts. In the meantime he thought the amounts could be granted out of the sick and funeral fund. He further stated that members of the National Fund were granted £6 and Friendly Societies £4. Bro. Burgess moved: "That the secretaries ibe instructed to pay maternity bonuses (4) out of the sick and funeral fund."—Seconded by Bro. Way and carried. WAR LOANS. Bro. Coldwell spoke on the war loans. He said his Court could invest up to £BOO in war loans, and they resolved to invest it -with the Government at, 4J per cent., although they could have got 5 per cent. This action had been criticised. His opinion was that all Courts that could invest should do so in the coming war loan. His Court had 16 men at the front, and felt that whenever possible all surplus fundls should go towards winning the war. The chairman said all Courts should do, and probably were anxious to do, ;

their utmost in this particular direction. The Inglewood Court had 'been vet/p patriotic. Bro. Kyle said that if a Court had money to invest it should first grant same to its members, provided the security was good. With all due respect to the Government and the opinion of others, he believed it was the member who should receive the first consideration. Bro. Coldwell said that friendly societies had received a lot of assistance from the Government, and he did not desire them to forget the fact. He enumerated many instances where the Government had been of practical value and benefit to the societies. There being no motion, no action was taken. NOMINATION OF OFFICERS. The following nominations 'were received for the next list of officers:— D.C.R., Bro. N. A. Kyle; D.£C.R., Bro. R. H. Geddesj D.W., Bro. H. Ward; D.8., Bro. J. Andrews. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Court Stratford for the hospitality extended to delegates. A vote, of thanks and appreciation was also pasSed to Mr. Traverti, of Wellington, who had done much good work in connection with benefit societies, """ .." "■ ""—r«