H.-l

2

" (2) A branch of any friendly society may in accordance with the provisions of the last preceding subsection, with the necessary modifications, transfer so much of any surplus of a branch fund as can be safely used to any deficient fund of the society of which it is a branch." Section 51 of the same Act validated payments made from the funds of friendly societies or branches thereof to public funds established for the relief of distress or hardship due to the earthquakes which occurred in New Zealand in the month of June, 1929, provided such payments were not made out of a benefit fund. Registrations. There were registered during the past year eighteen new branches, as follows: —M.U.1.0.0.F. : Progress Lodge (North Canterbury District) and Geraldine Lodge (South Canterbury District). 1.0.0. F. : Rangi Rebekah Lodge, Otahuhu Lodge, Lily of Devonport Rebekah Lodge, Iti Rebekah Lodge, Kupe Lodge, Kotiro Rebekah Lodge, Ngati Awa Lodge, Alpine Rebekah Lodge, Haeremai Lodge, and Mangaroa Lodge. A.O.F. : Court Star of Swanson (Auckland District). U.A.O.D. : Turanga Lodge and Waverley Lodge (Grand. Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand). 1.0. R. : Morrinsville Tent (New Zealand District). G.U.0.0.F. : fillerslie United Branch and Pride of the Valley Branch. There were also five isolated friendly societies registered. The following registrations were cancelled by request: M.U.1.0.0.F.: Star of Edendale Lodge (Southland District). 1.0.0. F. : Kaeo Lodge, Rua Tamaki Lodge, and Hui Mai Rebekah Lodge. A.O.F. : Court Pride of Waikato (Auckland District). H.A.C.B.S. : St. Columbkille's Branch (Denniston) and St. Joseph's Branch (Port Chalmers). I.F.S. : The Auckland Hospital Patients' Benevolent Fund. The following amalgamation was registered : —1.0.R. : Hope of South Invercargill Tent with Murihiku Tent (New Zealand Central District). The following change of name was approved:—l.F.S. : " The Auckland City Tramways Club " to " The Auckland Transport Club." The position of the orders in respect of registration is shown by the following summary as at the beginning and end of 1929 : —

A complete list of societies and branches on the register as at the end of ]929 is given in Appendix i. Rtjles. The rules of seventy-four societies and branches were amended during 1929. Complete Amendments of Rules registered. Complete amendments for the following were registered during the year, viz. : — M.U.1.0.0.F. —Motueka District; and Roxburgh Lodge (Otago District). A.O.F. —Court Captain Cook (Hawke's Bay District); and Court Victoria (Canterbury United District). U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand. 0.5.T. —National Division of New Zealand. 1.E.8. —Brunner Miners' Sick Fund ; and the Auckland Transport Club. W.M.C. —The Palmerston North Cosmopolitan Club ; and Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts. S.A.S. —Hawke's Bay United Friendly Societies' Dispensary.

Ill Registrations Registrations Name of Order. at 1st Janu- Established. Closed. f at 31st Deary, 1929. j cember, 1929. Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows .. 246 2 I 247 Independent Order of Odd Fellows .. .. .. 196 10 3 203 National Independent Order of Oddfellows .. .. 3 .. .. 3 British United Order of Oddfellows .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 Ancient Order of Foresters . . .. .. .. 166 1 1 166 Ancient Order of Shepherds .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 United Ancient Order of Druids .. .. .. .. 144 2 .. 146 Independent Order of Rechabites .. .. .. 68 1 1 68 Order of Sons of Temperance .. .. .. .. 10 .. .. 10 Sons and Daughters of Temperance .. . . . . 1 .. .. 1 Hibernian-Australasian Catholic Benefit Society .. .. 71 .. 2 69 Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia .. 15 .. .. 15 Grand United Order of Oddfellows .. .. .. 11 2 .. 13 Isolated friendly societies .. .. .. .. 61 5 1 65 Working-men's clubs .. .. .. .. .. 16 .. .. 16 International Order of Good Templars .. . . . . 11. .. .. 11 Specially authorized societies .. .. .. .. 16 .. .. 16 Totals .. .. .. .. 1,037 23 9 1,051 I