H.—l

12

themselves of the authority granted by section 5, subsection (6), of the Friendly Societies Act and have a thorough audit by a public auditor at least annually. We desire to bear testimony to the able manner in which the representatives of both sides placed before us their views upon the questions submitted. For our part, we have endeavoured to give every facility for an impartial investigation, and we trust that all irritation will disappear, and that both sides will work for the advancement of the order, which in recent years has made such magnificent progress in the North Island of New Zealand. We forward herewith, for your consideration, a copy of the whole of the evidence taken on this inquiry. We have, &c, W. H. Quick, Chairman. H. Birch. Wellington, 20th January, 1906. On receipt of the report, the Registrar, in terms of section 28 of the Act, apportioned the cost of the inquiry (viz., £60 18s.) to be borne as follows: Grand Lodge, North Island (one-fourth), £16 4s. 6d. ; the applicants (three-fourths), £45 13s. 6d. Othek Societies on Register. At the end of 1906 there were 16 isolated friendly societies, 4 juvenile societies, 16 workingmen's clubs, and 21 specially authorised societies: total, 57. Returns for 1906 were received from 39 and for 1905 from 49 of these societies, details of which will be found in Tables VII and VIIa. Trade-unions. There were no changes in these registrations during the year 1906. Unclassified Societies Registration Act. The Department has the administration of this Act. During the year 50 incorporations were effected, making the total number of registrations 411, less 7 cancelled, leaving 404 as the number of societies on register. A statement is appended hereto grouping the societies now on the register: — Sports— Number. Bowling clubs ... ... ••■ •■• •■• ...41 Tennis clubs ... ... ... ■•• ••■ ... 25 Boating clubs ... ... ... ■•• ■•■ ... 21 Football clubs ... ... •■■ ••• ■•■ ...19 Cricket, boxing, and other sporting clubs ... ... . . 70 . 176 Musical — Brass bands ... ... ■•■ ■■• ■■■ ... 40 Musical and operatic societies ... ... ... ... 31 Social— Social clubs ... ... ... ■•• ■■• •■■ £ -> Public-hall clubs ... ... ••• •■• ... 21 Literary, art, reading clubs ... •■• ••■ ... 10 Philanthropic clubs ... ... ••• ••• •• s 68 Commercial, trade, and professional ... ... •■ •■ 38 Medical and pharmaceutical ... ... ■•• •■■ ■■■ ° Caledonian societies... ... ••• ■■■ •■■ ■■• £ Improvement breed of horses, dogs, cattle, poultry, &c. ... b Miscellaneous — Spiritualistic and theosophical ... ... . •■• ■■■ 6 Fire-brigades Orange lodges ... ... ■■••■ ■• • • '"' ■12 Others ... *3__ gg Total There is every indication that the number of unclassified societies will further increase beyond the large number already on the register, and as some of these organizations have considerable funds and property, the question of imposing in the interest of the public some stricter supervision over their business will very shortly require consideration. Section 16 of the Act of 1895 authorises the cancellation of the certificate of incorporation should it be found that the society is other than an unclassified society, but the Act provides no means of ascertaining whether or.not a society is conducting its operations in conformity with its registered objects. 6 J Robt. E. Hates, Registrar Friendly Societies, Trade-unions, and Wellington, 15th June, 1907. Unclassified Societies.