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Westland District, M.U.1.0.0.F.: Valued as at 31st December, 1910. At the valuation date there were 3 branches, and 201 members. The sickness experience of the quinquennium was favourable to the extent of £593, or 25 per cent., whilst the death-rate was about normal. The deaths over a period of fifteen years numbered 48, as compared with 46 expected by the tables. Two of the lodges failed to earn 4 per cent, on their funds. The valuation shows that 2 lodges have deficiencies aggregating £3,727, and that the net deficiency over the whole district is £3,421. The deficiency lodges are both situated in old gold-mining districts, and show a decrease in the membership and a high average age. One of these lodges (Waimea) has had no new entrants for several years, and forms a striking example of the manner in which members use up, when old, the accumulations made when young. These accumulations in the case mentioned are proving quite insufficient, and the position of the lodge appears hopeless. The other deficiency lodge is in a better position, and is within the scope of reformative measures. Otago District, M.U.1.0.0.F. : Valued as at 31st December, 1909. At the valuation date there were 30 branches, with a membership of 4,417. The sickness experience of members during the quinquennium was favourable to the extent of £3,041, or 11 per cent., whilst the death-rate was also low. The mortality for the past twenty years has been slightly below the standard, the deaths being 490 as against an expectation of 497. The rates of interest earned have, on the whole, been satisfactory. Only the lodges with small funds have failed to earn 4 per cent., and these tend to improve. The mean rate earned over the whole district was 4f per cent. The valuation shows deficiencies totalling £21,677 in 24 lodges, and surpluses totalling £11,002 in 6 lodges. Taking into account a fund of £2,067 held by the society in aid of the deficiency lodges, a net deficiency of £8,608 is shown over the district as a whole. As compared with 1904 the society would have shown a very great improvement owing to the favourable experience and good interest-earnings. These factors were, however, offset by the increase which was made in the funeral benefit. The result is that, whilst the surplus lodges came out a little better than at 1904, the deficiency lodges have on the whole gone back somewhat. The outlook for the next valuation is, however, very promising, and it may be mentioned that the scale of contributions charged to new members is more nearly adequate than was the case at 1904. The new Act should prove of great assistance in preventing hasty and ill-considered increases (such as the above) in the benefits of societies. Lyttelton District, M.U.1.0.0.F. : Valued as at 31st December, 1910. At the valuation date there were 6 branches, with a membership of 522. The sickness experience of the quinquennium was favourable to the extent of £100, or about 2| per cent., whilst the death-rate was somewhat below the standard. The mortality for the past twenty years has on the whole agreed very closely with the standard, the deaths being 108 as against an expectation of 103. Only one lodge failed to earn 4 per cent, on its funds, and a mean rate of 5f was earned on the benefit funds of the. district as a whole. The valuation shows deficiencies totalling £1,186 in 4 lodges, and surpluses amounting to £2,463 in 2 lodges, the net surplus being £1,277. The district is working under a scale of contributions which is less than adequate, and if the membership had increased materially the valuation would have disclosed financial retrogression. As it is, the financial position has improved since 1905, the membership having remained stationary. Ashburton District, M.U.1.0.0.F. : Valued as at 31st December, 1910. At the valuation date there were 6 branches, with a membership of 472. The sickness experience of the period of four years was favourable to the extent of £199, or about 11| per cent., whilst the death-rate was a little below the standard. The mortality-rate for the past nineteen years has on the whole been light, the number of deaths in that period being 34 as against 43 expected. Only 1 branch failed to earn 4 per cent, interest on its benefit funds, and the mean rate over the whole society was a little over 4f per cent. The valuation shows the District Funeral Fund, which was recently reorganized upon my advice, to be in a sound state ; and, in addition, every lodge has a surplus, the total surplus over the whole society being £5,028. The position of the society is exceedingly satisfactory. - Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, U.A.O.D. : Valued as at 31st December, 1907. At the valuation date there were 20 branches, with a membership of 2,542. The sickness experience of the quinquennium was favourable to the extent of £697, or about per cent., whilst the death-rate was very low. The mortality for the last ten years has, in fact, been below the standard, the deaths being 80 as against an expectation of 92. Ten of the lodges failed to earn 4 per cent, upon their funds. In almost every case they were lodges with only small accumulations. The mean rate of interest earned over the district as a whole was 4J per cent.

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