FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2605, 12 August 1882, Page 3

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

[from our CORRESPONDENT. I WELLINGTON, August 10,

The annual report of the Begiotrar-Q-eneral oa friendly societies was presented to-night. It is as usual very voluminous, but its main points are as follows :—Returns have been received from 138 registered lodges, thus representing an increase of 16 upon the previous year. Taking some of the most noteworthy results in detail, the retures for 1880 show an actual loss of members. The figures are as follows Number of members admitted during the year, 1863 ; number of members lapsed during the year, 2031 ; number of members died during the year, 90; lowing a total loss of 258. This serious falling oS in the numbers was in all probability caused by the commercial depression recently experienced in the colony, which had the effect of driving many artizana and laborers away from New Zealand, and which 'doubtless prevented many of those who remained from keeping up their sab soriptlous and membership. It is satisfactory to find that there was in 1881 sufficient excess of admissions over lapses to more than outweigh the mortality, and thus to secure a slight net increase in the number of members. Of the 138 lodges, forty had on the 31st Ds. cember, 1880, fewer than fifty members each; fifty-five had between 50 and 100 members ; sixteen had between 100 and 150; fifteen between 150 and 200 ; five between 200 and 250; three between 250 and 800 ; two between 300 and 350 ; one between 850 and 400; and one between 400 and 450. _ The average number in each lodge of the Railway Benefit Societies, which are not strictly local societies, is 93,6. The number of deaths of members for the year was 80, or 0.76 per

100 members, as against 696 in tbe year 1879. Tho number of deaths of members 1 wives was 50, which Is equivalent to 3.76 per 100 members, as against 3.25 in 1879; tbe number of members aiok during the year was 1665, or 2.5 per cent, as against 12 7 per cent, in 1879. Tho total amount of sickness was 11,778 weeks 5 days, giving an average of nearly 0.9 week per member, and an average of somewhat more than 7 weeks per member sick. If with these figures we compare those obtained from the sickness experience of the eight earliest established lodges of tbe Manchester Unity, the result is:—Total number of members sick 264. or 14.4 per cent.; total number of weeks’ sickness 2679, that is, 1.46 weeks per member or above ten weeks per member sick. This comparison affords very distinct proof of the absolute necessity that there must be a considerable surplus income in the early years of a lodge, and that all such accumulations shall be well and safely invested, in order that the lodge may bo able to fulfil its promises as increasing liabilities resulting from increasing sickness have to bo met. In connection with these remarks it may be added that the total amount of siok and funeral funds belonging to all the lodges at tho end of the year 1830 was £141,713 2j, giving an average of £lO 15s 2d per member, and that out of thirty-six official valuations that have been made three only have shown a surplus.