FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7350, 19 September 1884, Page 5

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

[By Telegraph.]

[from oub special correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Sept. 18,

The Registrar’s seventh report on Friendly Societies was laid before Parliament to-day. Mr Prankland seems to think that, although it would appear, from the number of registrations effected during 1883, that Societies are generally satisfied with the working of the Friendly Societies Act, the reverse is the case. This is especially so with regard to those sections of it which impose duties and obligations, although in other instances the very reverse can. be affirmed. From correspondence and personal interviews with representatives of Societies he received several suggestions for modification in the Act. The only case in which legal proceedings were taken to enforce the production of returns was in that of the St Patrick Branch of the New Zealand Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society (Christchurch). The following gives the list of Societies in existence on Dec. 31,1553: —

Manchester Unity of Oddfellows —1 District, 120 Lodges. Independent Order of Oddfellows (American) —1 Grand Lodge and 15 subordinate Lodges. National Independent Order of Oddfellows—l District and 2 Lodges.

Ancient Order of Foresters —6 Districts, 77 Courts and 2 Widow and Orphan Funds. Ancient Order of Shepherds—2 Sanctuaries.

United Ancient Order of Druids —30 Lodges. Loyal United Friends Benefit Society—l Central body. Independent Order of Eechabites —2 Districts and 31 Tents.

Sons and Daughters of Temperance— 1 Grand Division and 8 subordinate Divisions.

Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society—G branches. New Zealand Hiberiann Catholic Benefit Society—l Executive Directory and 10 branches.

Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia—l Grand Lodge and 9 subordinate Lodges. New Zealand Railway Employees’ Benefit Society—l branch. Isolated Friendly Societies—Three. Benevolent Society—l.

Working Men’s Clubs—7. Independent Order of Good Templars—l Grand Lodge, 107 subordinate Lodges, and 2 Temples. Isolated sjjecially authorised Society—l. The statistical returns are apparently only made up for 1882. The number of Societies was 272. The number of members of the above-mentioned Lodges was 19,206. The total funds amounted to £232,469 Its Sd, of which .£204,780 0s 9d belonged to the sick and funeral funds. This gives an average of £l2 2s Id per member in respect of the total funds, and £lO 13a 3d in respect of the sick and general funds, and shows a decrease in the former of 5s 7d, and in the latter of 7s Ic. The difference is accounted for by the fact that nearly all the Lodges which appear in these tables this year for the first time, have been established at a recent date, and have, therefore, a small average fund per member.

Tho total number of admissions during 1882 was 338(1, and of deaths 126. giving a nett increase of 1148. The numerical strength of individual Lodges is greater than might be .expected, the average membership being 70. None of them aiv leas than ISO strong, while some are regimental almost, and carry 200, 250, 300. or even 400 names upon their books. Tho total contributions made to the Benefit Fund during tho year amounted to 4525,177, an average of 4517 per member. Receipts from entrance and clearance fees were 451767. Now, os to the substantial benefits conferred on members. Tho sum oxp<'£'d*'u cm sick members was no leas than -t’ l * and the largo sum of 4523.500 « I« u ™ the sick and funeral funds, and a expenditure of 4531,500 tho Societies for modital .. medicine. Altogether, the Friendly So<not es and other assets, bj* measurable distance of a qtmrter of a S°47o°tho di"S«d of which is shown in tho following otß>

Investments at interest 130,109 Value of land and buildings ... 81,597 Cash not bearing interest ... 13,876 Value of goods, regalia, 4c. ... 6,728 Other assets ... 1,160

o T , 41232,470 Secretaries of Lodges having complained of tho necessity of having to furnish cards showing dates of sickness and mortality in their Societies, and the Registrar consider-

ing it only fair that they should be remunerate! for their trouble, that course lias been taken.