Friendly Societies.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 8, 9 July 1895, Page 2

Friendly Societies.

The eighteenth annual report by the Registrar of Friendly Societies has been laid before the House. From it we learn that the number of members of various Societies of the roll at the beginning of the year 1893 was 23,---794 and at the end 29,703, an increase of nearly 1000. The number of mem hers sick during the year totalled 5810 and the deaths 201. The highest on the roll of membership for the year was the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows with a fine total of 11,688 j then follows the Ancient Order of Foresters, 9056 ; United Ancient Order of Druids, 3286 ; Independent Order of Rechabites, 1386 ; Independant Order of Oddfellows, 1212 : Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, 919 ; Sons and Daughters of Temperance, 887 ; Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia, 682 ; other small lodges follow. The total worth of all the societies is put down at the sum of £530,586 19a lid, the Sick and Funeral Fund at £469,836 3s 2d, and the Management Fund, goods, etc., at £60,750 16s 9d. The Medical and Management Expenses Fund show that the contributions and levies from own members amounted to £39,970; interest and rent, £898, and other receipts £4546, or a total of £55,380, The expenditure included medical attendance and medicine, £27,859 ; expenses, and management, £10,856 ; levies to central body, £3574 ; other expenditure, £1739, making a total of £47,028, the amount at the end of the year being £22,805. The disposition of funds at 31st December, 1593, show a total of £530,587, made up as follows : — lnvestments at interest, £383,---559 ; value of land and buildings, £112,913: cash not bearing interest, .£22,308 ; value of goods, furniture and regalia, £10,069 ; and other assets, £IQSS. The investments at interest deposited with tlje Savings Bank amounted to £29,007, and other banks £66,941, the rate being 4-9. The mortgages on freehold property totalled £268,002, bearing interest 7 # l ; Government and Municipal debentures £10,292, with interest 59 : and other investments, £9257, tlje interest bp-ingQ-1. '