1. The business of the District Meeting shall be conducted with properly closed doors (none but members of the Order allowed to be present); and shall commence as soon after the appointed time as the officers are seated, and the Beadle has reported that no strangers are present.

2. The preliminary business shall be the constituting of the Court, by calling over the names of the Delegates, and ascertaining if any are absent.

3. The first business entertained by the meeting shall be:—

• The reading of the manuscript minutes of any meetings not previously confirmed, and their adoption or otherwise.
• The bringing up of Auditors' Report and Secretary's Balance Sheets, and their adoption or otherwise.
• The reading of correspondence, which shall be held as received, unless a contrary motion has been carried.
• Correspondence not received cannot be discussed.
• The discussion of the business, as arranged on the business paper for the meeting.

4. No notice of motion shall be offered to the Court except in writing, and signed by the Delegate offering the same; and the Delegate milking such shall read it aloud that it may be considered by the District Chief Ranger as to its being in order; and at the time for hearing, it shall not be proceeded with in the absence of the Delegate from the proposing Court, unless by some other member present, duly authorised in writing to take up the motion during his absence.

5. Any Delegate making a motion or amendment shall reduce the same to writing at the request of the presiding officer, or any Delegate; in which case it shall not be before the Court until it be so written, and read by the District Secretary.

6. No motion or amendment shall be entertained or discussed until it has been seconded. Only one amendment upon a motion shall be entertained and decided at a time; and if any amendment is carried, it shall be held to have negatived the original page 46 motion, and stand in its place. It shall be competent, when one amendment is carried, to receive other amendments (two to be the limit); one at a time in like manner to be discussed and decided on, until the subject is finally disposed of. No Delegate shall propose more than one amendment upon any motion. No motion carried at a meeting shall be rescinded, except at another meeting, due notice having been given.

7. The mover or seconder merely of any motion or amendment shall be held to have spoken to the same. In the discussion of either, no Delegate shall be allowed to speak more than once, except strictly in explanation, or in contradiction of a misstatement, excepting the mover of the original motion, who shall have the right to reply; and no speaker to occupy a longer period than five minutes. No further discussion shall take place after the mover has replied.

8. Any Delegate rising to a point of order shall state distinctly such point or order without debate; and he (and the speaker) shall resume their seats until the point of order is decided by the presiding officer, whose decision shall be final. No Delegate shall speak without rising in his place, and respectfully addressing the District Chief Ranger. Delegates shall confine themselves to the question under debate, and avoid all personalities and indecorous or sarcastic language. Each Delegate, while speaking, shall designate the Delegate spoken of by his proper rank or title, according to his standing in the Order.

9. When any doubt arises as to the true meaning of any part of these Laws, it shall be determined by the Executive; providing the same shall have been sent to the District Secretary fourteen days prior to a District meeting, vouched by the signatures of the Chief Ranger and Secretary, with the Court Seal attached.

10. Any Delegate acting contrary to any of these Standing Orders shall be called to order, and should he persist, he shall be fined 2s. 6d.; still persisting, he shall be compelled to withdraw, and be fined in a further sum of 2s. 6d.

11. The District meeting may, at the annual meeting in October of each year, appoint a Special Auditor, who shall, at least once in every twelve months, examine the books of each Court in this District, to see that they are properly kept and audited. He shall report the result of his examination to the District Executive, which report shall be published in the Quarterly Reports, and he shall be paid as the District meeting may determine.