H.—l

The following statement shows the disposal of the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on 31 st December, 1925 : —

The next 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 Dominion of New Zealand according to the latest received statistics, arranged in order of membership :—

Sickness. The number of members sick during 1925 was 14,602, equal to 17-9 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1925 was 161,320 weeks, equal to 11 weeks per sick member, and 2 weeks for each member at risk. Mortality. The following statement of average mortality experienced during the years 1921-25 is given herewith, but it takes no account of age incidence : —

Sick and Funeral Funds. The contributions and entrance fees paid to Sick and Funeral Funds in 1925 amounted to £164,450. Divided by the mean number of members the average for 1925 was £1 16s. 10d., as compared with £1 16s. 4d. in 1924. The interest and rent received by the lodges and central bodies amounted to £149,228 in 1925, equal to £1 13s. sd. per member, as against £1 12s. 4d. for 1924. The amount of sickness benefit paid was £104,148 in 1925, equal to £7 2s. Bd. per member sick, and £1 3s. 4d. per member, as against £7 3s. 9d. and £1 2s. lid. respectively for 1924. Viewing the amount paid in relation to the weeks of sickness, the average benefit per week is found to be 12s. lid. in 1925, as against 12s. 9d. for 1924. The funeral benefit paid amounted to £28,192 in 1925, equal to 6s. 4d. per member, as compared with 6s. 9d. for 1924. The total worth of the Sick and Funeral Funds of 817 lodges at the beginning of 1925 was £2,618,326, and at the end of the year £2,724,840. The balance of gain for the year was £106,514, or £1 3s. lOd. per member, in 1925, as compared with £173,301, or £2 os. 5d., in 1924. The comparative decrease in the net gain is due to the fact that during the preceding year there were profits, amounting to some £30,000, in the sale of real estate. It must also be pointed out that last year the appropriations of surplus funds exceeded those of the previous year by more than £40,000. Taking these factors into account the increase for last year would be about equal to the average of recent years. The greatest part of the surplus appropriations mentioned above has been transferred to special funds for the payment of additional future benefits or the immediate reduction of members' contributions.

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Funds. Assets. £ ' £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 2,724,840 Investments at interest .. .. .. 2,085,251 Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c. .. .. 190,301 Value of land and buildings .. .. 307,537 Management Funds, goods, &c. .. .. 144,316 Cash not bearing interest.. .. .. 93,721 Widow and Orphans'Funds .. .. 23,036 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 20,272 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. .. .. 53,744 Other assets .. .. .. .. 21,902 Owing by Management Funds .. .. 7,554 Total.. .. .. ..£3,136,237 | Total .. .. ..£3,136,237

Number Number j Amount Capital State or Dominion. Date of Return. of of ! of per Lodges. Members. Funds. Member. £ £ s. d. New South Wales .. .. .. 30th June, 1924 .. 2,198 219,118 2,904,432 13 5 1 Victoria .. .. .. .. „ 1924 .. 1,469 153,840 3,838,052 24 19 0 New Zealand .. .. .. 31st December, 1924 782 87,433 2,955,340 33 16 0 South Australia .. .. .. , 1923 632 72,454 1,749,332 24 2 11 Queensland .. .. .. „ 1923 615 59,649 1,227,043 20 11 5 Tasmania .. .. .. .. „ 1923 190 24,660 315,367 12 15 9 Western Australia .. .. .. „ 1923 290 19,590 349,928 17 17 3

Members. Wives. Year. i Number who died. I dumber who died. I ££[ Jg» I I 1921 .. .. .. .. .. 615 8-08 261 3-43 1922 .. .. .. .. .. 649 8-18 296 3'73 1923 .. .. .. .. .. 684 8-29 I 328 3'98 1924 .. .. .. .. .. 674 8-09 295 3'54 1925 .. .. .. .. .. 648 7-22 j 328 3'66