The Bush Advocate TUESDAY, JULY 12. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Bush Advocate, Volume VII, Issue 648, 12 July 1892, Page 2

The Bush Advocate TUESDAY, JULY 12. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The annual report of the RegistrarGeneral of Friendly Societies contains information which will be read with interest not only by members of these societies, but by the general publio as well. His report shows that the number of members of friendly societies in tbe colony at the end of tho year was 26,379, as against 25,714 at the beginning-, co tbat tbe advance has been comparatively small. Tho mortality experience of members s : ws a decrease to 5*60 per 1000 It v 6-44 tbe previous year, and of m umbers' wives to 32-8 per 1000 from 3-44. The average funeral benefit has fallen from 3s 5d to 2s lld, while the percentage of ailing members has risen from 15-81 to 19-24. The influenza epidemic is responsible for the increase in the number ailing, and the short duration of illness is shown by tho smaller average sum received. The average duration of illness, taking the wholo number, rose from 1-14 weeks to 1-20, while the actual average duration among those only who were ill fell from 729 to 6"20 weeks. From a diagram ahowing the relative illness experience of lodges containing 100 members and upwards wa learn that the Foresters and Eechabites stand nearly equal with between 20 and 21 per cent ; the percentage in tho Manchester Unity being slightly lower. As to tho duration of illness, the record of tho Manchester Unity is just above 1-7 weeks, the Foresters 1-4 weeks, and the Eechabites just under one week. A severe strain on the fundd of the lodges has been cauaod by the groat increase of illness duo to the influenza epidemic, but the fact that the Eegis-trar-General does not consider that this fact calls for any comment is clear testimony that ho has full confidence in the stability of the societies,