H.—l.

Taking the several years 1900-1906, the number of lodges whose returns were tabulated, the number of members, total funds, and average capital per member at the end of each were as under: —

The following table shows the number of members of friendly societies, the amount of their accumulated capital, and the average capital per member, in each of the Australian States and in the Colony of New Zealand, according to the latest received statistics, arranged in order of membership:— __

The following statement shows the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31et December, 1905 and 1906 respectively: —

Progress of Friendly Societies' Business. Tables have been prepared illustrating the increase in membership and contributions compared with life-insurance business and the population. The dissimilarity of the items does not facilitate a ready comparison, and the numbers have therefore been reduced to the common basis of 100 at 1887. This shows that for every 100 persons in the population at 1887 there were 118-36 at 1896 and 146-26 at 1905; whilst for every 100 friendly societies' members at 1887 there were 127-67 at 1896 and 205 at 1905. Friendly' societies' membership had therefore increased at a considerably greater ratio as compared with its 1887 figures than the population has done, and the same result is disclosed in the case of friendly societies' contributions. It is interesting to note that the amount insured in life companies, the friendly societies' membership, and the friendly societies' contributions have all increased at almost exactly the same ratio. The greater rate of increase in life-insurance premiums as compared with friendly societies' contributions is probably due to the employment of paid canvassers.

Table A.

4

Year. Number of Lodges tabulated. Number of Members. Total Funds Average Capital. 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 443 445 462 465 479 501 500 40,257 41,236 43,408 45,255 47,302 51,103 53,759 £ 766,480 804,753 846,315 883,751 936,388 996,224 1,057,821 £ s. d. 19 0 9 19 10 4 19 9 11 19 10 7 19 15 11 19 9 11 19 13 6

State or Colony. Date of Keturn. Number of Lodges. Number of Members. : Amount of Funds. Capital per Member. Victoria New South Wales .. New Zealand South Australia Queensland Tasmania.. Western Australia .. .. 31st December, 1905 1905 1905 1904 1905 1904 1905 1,306 1,195 501 499 399 155 217 111,557 , 1,626,555 103,041 970,893 51,103 996,224 49,233 676,044 32,164 i 359,371 16,500 142,000 13,925 97,375 £ a. d. 14 11 7 9 8 6 19 9 11 13 14 8 11 3 6 8 12 2 6 19 11

1905.' 1906. Assets. 1905. 1906. Funds. £ Siok and Funeral Funds .. 886,531 Surplus Appropriation Funds .. 23,310 Management Fund, goods, &c. .. 40,766 Widow and Orphans' Funds .. 9,471 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. .. 36,146 £ 946,2811 24,267: 61,655: 9,349: 16,269! Investments at interest Value of land and buildings Cash not bearing interest Value of goods Other assets Owing by Management Fund 799,822 136,154 38,805 11,592 8,482 1,369 £ 851,852 142,636 42,285 11,830 8,265 953 Totals .. .. 996,224 1 1,057,821: 1,057,821: Totals 996,224 1,057,821

1887 .. 1890 .. 1893 .. 1896 .. 1899 .. 1902 .. 1905 .. Year. Population Reduced to at 31st the Basis of December. 100 at 1887. 003,361 100-00 625,508 103-67 .. I 672,265 111-42 .. i 714,162 118-36 756,505 125-38 .. • 807,929 133-90 882,462 146-26 Amount of Life Insurance Premiums paid in Year. £ 420,477 464,462 528,405 586,527 683,591 798,145 936,940 Reduced to Reduced-to lafewj "™3~ was 100-00 14,257,353 100-00 110-46 15,582,650 j 109-30 125-67 : 17,833,460 125-08 139-49 i 19,535,397 137-02 162-57 I 22,242,031 156-01 189-81 ! 25,330,185 177-67 222-82 i 28,965,220 2 03-16