H.—l

The total funds of the societies and branches as at the 31st December, 1938, amounted to £5,280,472, made up as follows : Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £4,867,291 ; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c, £413,181. Dividing the total funds by the number of members at the end of the year it is found the average capital per member is now £46 Bs. 9d. Taking the several years 1929-38, the number of lodges whose returns were tabulated, the number of members, total funds, and average capital per member at the end of each year were as under :—

These sums are, of course, held against the societies' liabilities under their sickness and funeral insurances, and the actuarial reports issued from time to time indicate how far they are sufficient or otherwise. The above figures include the latest statistics received from lodges. The following statement shows the disposal of the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as at the 31st December, 1938 : —

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 according to the latest received statistics and in the Dominion of New Zealand as at the 31st December, 1937, arranged in order of membership : —

Sickness. The number of members sick during 1938 was 28,682, equal to 26-9 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1938 was 304,773 weeks, equal to 10 weeks 4 days per sick member, and 2 weeks 5 days for each member at risk.

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Yea, *"$£&%?*" JJS&L Tota. Funds. Average Capita!. £ £ s. d. 1929 .. .. .. 900 105,154 3,927,433 37 7 0 1930 .. .. .. 906 107,167 4,130,117 38 10 9 1931 .. .. .. 912 105,660 4,277,715 40 9 9 1932 .. .. .. 912 102,052 4,398,158 43 1 11 1933 .. .. .. 918 100,237 4,538,095 45 5 6 1934 .. .. .. 929 100,708 4,676,427 46 8 9 1935 .. .. .. 936 103,612 4,812,787 46 9 0 1936 .. .. .. 945 108,059 4,956,948 45 17 5 1937 .. .. .. 960 112,888 5,120,125 45 7 1 1938 .. .. .. 966 113,709 5,280,472 46 8 9

Funds. Assets. £ J £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 4,396,280 j Investments at interest .. .. .. 4,597,892 Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c. .. .. 471,011 Value of land and buildings .. .. 494,954 Management Funds, goods, &c. .. .. 234,533 Cash not bearing interest .. .. 120,274 Widow and Orphans'Funds .. .. 35,485 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 22,134 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. .. .. 143,163 Other assets .. .. .. .. 34,000 Owing by Management Funds .. .. 5,218 Total .. .. .. .. £5,280,472 Total .. .. .. .. £5,280,472

Number Number Amount Capital State or Dominion. Date of Eeturn. of of of per Lodges. Members. Funds. Member. £ £ s. d. New South Wales .. .. .. 30th June, 1937 .. 2,429 208,979 4,733,247 22 13 0 Victoria .. .. .. .. „ ,, 1,459 191,732 5,989,854 31 4 10 New Zealand .. .. .. 31st Dec. 960 112,888 5,120,125 45 7 1 South Australia .. .. .. 30th June, 1936 .. 740 89,886 2,668,315 29 13 9 Queensland .. .. .. „ •• 603 69,333 1,878,645 27 1 11 Western Australia .. .. .. 30th June, 1937 .. 352 25,443 621,309 24 8 5 Tasmania.. .. .. •• 31st Dec, 1936 .. 193 25,068 463,396 18 9 9