3

EL— 1

I.F.S. —The Wanganui United Friendly Societies' Dispensary, The Masterton United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. W.M.C. —Wellington Working-men's Club and Literary Institute. S.A.S. —Hawke's Bay A.O.F. Small Savings Society. Partial Amendments of Rules registered. Partial amendments for the following were made '. — M.U.I.O.O.F.—New Zealand Branch ; Hawke's Bay District; Taranaki District; Otago District (2) ; Clive Lodge (Hawke's Bay District) ; Waipu Lodge (Auckland District) ; Wanganui Lodge (Wanganui District) ; Hand of Friendship Lodge, City of Norwich Lodge (Lyttelton District) ; Awarua Lodge (Southland District). I.O.O.F.—Ciutha Lodge. A.O.F.—Wellington District; United Otago District ; Court Ashburton (Canterbury United District) ; Court Foresters' Pride (South Canterbury District) ; Court Blenheim (not in any district) ; Court Clarendon (not in any district). A.O.S.—Sanctuary Sir George Grey. U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of Canterbury ; Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland ; Timaru Lodge (Grand Lodge of Canterbury). 1.0.R. —New Zealand District; New Zealand Central District. S.D.T.—National Division of New Zealand. H.A.C.B.S.—New Zealand District. P.A.F.S.A. —Grand Council of New Zealand. G.U.O.O.F.—The Grand United Order of Oddfellows, Friendly Society of New Zealand. I.F.S. —The Huntly Collieries' Medical and Accident Relief Association ; Christchurch United Friendly Societies' Dispensary; Eden Temperance Benefit Friendly Society; Grey Valley Coal-miners' Medical Fund Society ; The Wellington United Friendly Societies' Medical Institute ; The Bluff United Friendly Societies' Dispensary ; Blackball Medical Club ; The Canterbury (N.Z.) Seed Company, Limited, Employees' Sick and Benefit Friendly Society. 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, 1923. Name of Society. t> j- Branches, M.U.1.0.0.F... .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 10 1.0.0. F. .. .. .. .. .. .... 21 N.1.0.0.F. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1 A.O.F. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 11 U.A.O.D. .. .. 16 1.0.R 14 S.D.T. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 H.A.C.B.S .. .. 1 25 1.F.5., &c .. .. .... 34 7 133 140 Statistics of Membership and Funds. The following table shows the membership of 746 lodges* of the Dominion for the year 1922 : — Number of members, Ist January .. .. .. .. .. 77,814 Number admitted by— Initiation, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 7, 618 Clearance .. .. .. .. .. .. 900 8,518 86,332 Number who died.. .. .. .. .. ... 649 Number left by — Clearance .. .. .. • .. .. ".. 946 Arrears, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,960 5,555 Number of members at 31st December .. .. .. .. 80,777 The above figures show an increase in membership equal to 3-81 per cent., as compared with 4-86 per cent, for 1921.

*The word "lodge," when applied to all societies, is to be understood as embracing]the synonymous terms " court," " tent," &c, as used in the various orders.