The Powsters.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3099, 23 January 1879, Page 2

The Powsters.

The 44th High Court meeting of the Ancient -Order of Foresters wa« held at Newcastleou-Tyne last week. -There was a large attendance ofdelegates from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland, and the sittings extended over the entire week. The latest figures; published bring the totals of the order up to the end of January benefit, members, .521,416; courts; 4,414; districts; 287; members, 11,379; value of court funds, £2.209,319; district; Xfundff, £287,841: number of courts with a graduated scale of contributions, 3,764. In connection Wlt'l tne Foresters there is an inner body, the Shepherds, and'a juvenile. Forestry, with juvenile Foresters 38,570 strong. The latter hare accumulated funds to the value of £29,367. In addition to these there is a colonial and foreign Forestry. Th?y show a total of 38 districts and 475 courts; composed of 32,204Vbenefii and 582 honorary members. The Value of the colonial and foreign court funds is £147*778} and the district funds amount to £23,742, according to the latest returns. Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, are the great colonial strongholds of Forestry. ■'Thej' high: chief rangers! wail-Mr George Smith. The executive for the year were resident within the district, accdrding -to ,u»age. A large amount of legislation wag got through. 1 A "good deal of wirnM was shewn, however, among, the delegates with regard to the much debatea 23rdclause of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1876, to" which the Foresters and all the friendly societies of a like kind are opposed. The result of the enactment has enabled Boards of Guardians to attach payments due from Foresters, Oddfellows, Druids and similar organizations to members suffering from insanity or other sickness which cause them to seek the shelter of the workhouse, while those who are dependent upon the sick men for daily subsistence lose All title'to the money. Some cases of great hardship were mentioned in the High Court. The clause had been*introduced into the Bill by Mr Mellor, M.P. In the autumn of 1877 Mr Mellor was appealed to, aod on learning the true sLale of affairs,,be'at once gave all the assistance in his power towards procuring the antarfment of the obnoxious clause. In the Result a short Bill was introduced providing that the section complained of Should not apply to any' moneys which a pauper or pauper lunatic—having a wife or other relative depending upon him for maintenance-* might be entitled to receive as a member of any friendly or benefit society; but that such moneys should be paid, or applied to, or go to the maintenance of such wife or relative. The House of Commons speedily passed the Bill. But amendments were made in the Upper House which so limited its action that the executive of the Foresters declined to accept the measure. The meeting of the High Court- will be held at Sheffield next year, and at Dublin the following year. The executive for 1880 will be entirely chosen from Ireland. By the adoption of a new preface' in the general laws of the society a' step 'Hat been taken in the direction of removing Forestry out of the category of secret societies.