FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

ANOTHER YEAR OF PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY.

The closing year of the century has been one of solid progress and prosperity for the principal British friendly societies. , For this the societies have to thank the continued good trade, regularity of work, generally high wages, and absence of Labour disputes. These favourable features have enabled the principal societies to make substantial numerical progress, and to pay the h contributions and meet the sickness and other claims of those members who are serving their ■ country’s cause in South Africa. ODDFELLOWS: MILLION MEMBERS WANTED. The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows holds the premier place among the friendly societies of the world, both as to number of members and capital funds. The aggregate membership, according to the latest returns, is 961,5UU, of whom 819,567 are adult members. The increase of adult members for the year was 15,152. The financial returns issued in October show the capital of the society to amount to £10,406,826. .The income of the sick and funeral fund for the twelve months was £1,253,926, and the society paid in the same period for sickness benefits £726,264, and for funeral allowances £151,874. The average worth of the funds of the adult lodges per member is £ll 13s 7fd. The distinguishing feature of the year’s work has been a special effort to raise the aggregate membership of the Unity to one million before the close of the century. It is impossible at present to say what measure' of success has attended this effort as the returns from the lodges in the United Kingdom and, the Colonies cannot be compiled earlier than April, but it may safely be predicted that the membership on December 31st will be somewhat about 990,000, and the capital £10,750,000. THE DRUIDS. The United Ancient Order of Druids, whose history ruus back to 1781, has a membership of 80,557. The numerical increase of the British lodges for the year was 2332, and of the Colonial lodges 1705 members. The society has set itself the task of raising the membership to 100,000, and considerable activity has prevailed in the lodges this year to achieve this result. The income of the year was £64,644, and the payments £54,072. The total funds amount to £449,815.

ANCIENT ORDER OP FORESTERS. The Ancient Order of Foresters stands second among British friendly, societies ■with a membership exceeding 900,000, and a determination to compete with their friendly rivals, the Oddfellows, in the race for a million members. The latest returns available show the aggregate membership to be 912,699, of which 740,887 are adult benefit members. The increase of members for the year was 12,643. The funds of the society amount to £6,624,939, an increase of £285,662. The Foresters have done a great work within the past teii_ years in improving the financial position of the Order.

In the autumn a circular was issued to the Courts of the Order in Cape Colony and Natal asking whether any financial assistance would be required ‘as a consequence of the war. The replies, while ■evincing gratitude for the kindly offer of the English executive, show a refreshing spirit of independence on the part of the colonial branches. The British Courts are paying the contributions of those members who are serving with the Army in South Africa. Other societies show equally favourable results.