H.—l

4

Rules. The rules of 40 societies and branches came under revision in one form or another for amendment during 1916. Complete amendments were registered during the year, viz. : — M.U.l.O.O.F.—Wellington District; Loyal Napier (Hawke's Bay District); Auckland District; Loyal Good Intent (Auckland. District) ; Loyal City of Christchureh and Loyal Riccarton (North Canterbury District); Loyal Middlomarch (Otago District); Loyal Lumsden (Southland District). A.O.F.—Wellington District; Court Sir George Grey (Wellington District); Court City of Auckland (Court not in any district). U.A.O.D. —Excelsior (Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand). H.A.C.B.S.—New Zealand District. I.F.S.—Huntly Collieries Medical and Accident Relief Association; Millerton Colliery Medical and Accident Relief Association. W.M.C. —Auckland Working-men's Club and Mechanics' Institute ; Oxford Working-men's Club ; Napier Working-men's Club. Partial Amendments of Rules registered. Partial amendments for the, following were made :— M.U.I.O.O.F.—New Zealand Branch ; North Canterbury District; Loyal Benevolent and Loyal City of Christchureh (North Canterbury District) ; Otago District. 1.0.0.F.—1.0.0.F. of New Zealand ; Chertsey Lodge (1.0.0.F. of New Zealand). A.O.F. —Taranaki District (2) ; Court Star of Canterbury (Canterbury United District). U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand (2) ; Grand Lodge of Canterbury District; Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland District (4). I.O.R.—New Zealand District. P.A.F.S.A.—-Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia. I.F.S. —Kaitangata Employees' Benefit Society. W.M.C—-Christchureh Working-men's Club and Mutual School of Arts (2). Annual Returns of Receipts and Expenditure, etc. The Friendly Societies Act requires these returns to reach me on or before the 31st March in each year. The number outstanding at that date in the respective societies was as follows : — Annual Returns Outstanding at 31st March, 1917. Name of Society. „ , r Brandies. M.U.1.0.0.F.— Auckland District .. .. .. . . . . .. 4 New Plymouth District .. .. .. .. .. 5 Marlborough District . . .. . . . . .. .. 1 Motueka. District . . .. . . . . .. . . 1 North Canterbury District .. .. .. ... .. 1 Ashburton District .. .. .. .. .., .. 2 1.0.0.F. of New Zealand .. . . .. . . .. . . 25 A.O.F.— Auckland District .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 Hawke's Bay District .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Taranaki District .. . . .. .. .. .. 3 Wellington District .. .. . . .. . . .. 3 Nelson District .. .. .. . . .. . . 1 Canterbury United District . . . . .. .. .. 1 South Canterbury District .. .. .. . . 1 3 United Otago District .. .. .. .. 1 3 Courts not in any district .. .. .. .. .. 1 U.A.O.D.— Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand .. 1 15 Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland .. .. .. .. 2 1.0.R.— New Zealand District .. .. .. .. .. 1 3 New Zealand Central District .. .. .. .. .. 14 S.D.T.— Divisions separately registered .. .. .. .. .. 1 . HA.C.B.S 1 30 P.A.F.S.A. .. .. 1 I 1.F.5., &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 7 148 The above results are an improvement on the previous year. 155