FRIENDLY SOCIETIES OF DOMINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20056, 20 September 1920, Page 8

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES OF DOMINION.

The report of the Registrar for the year ended December 31, 1918, contains some references which will be of interest to members of local branches of Inendly Societies. On January 1, 1918, there were 879 registrations, and on December 31, 883, showing an increase of four branches for the year. Seven branches had been opened and three closed. Registration of the six principal societies are as follows: Manchester Unity Oddfellows 226, Foresters 154, Druids 133, Independent Order of Oddfellows 105, Rechabites 77, Hibernians 73. The membership of 731 on January 1, 1913, amounted t°. 68,771. The number admitted by initiation was 2473, by clearance 324, making a total of 71,568. The number who died during the year was 1821, loft by .clearance 327, left by arrears 1893, leaving a membership on December 31, 1918, of 67,527. Although these figures show a slight decrease in membership, the percentage loss is reduced from 2.7 per cent in 1917 an 1.8 percent in 1918. This is the first year since 1914 with the initiations in excess of the exits through arrears, and the figures would have been still more satisfactory but for the epidemic mortality. The three leading societies in point of membership are Manchester Unity of Oddfellows 20,633, Druids 15,531, Foresters 15,372. The total funds as at December 31, 1918, were £2,100,443, an increase of £47,690 for the year, and their allotment is as follows Sick and funeral £873,510, surplus appropriation funds £74,699, management fund £97,285, widows and orphans’ fund £16,96t, distress and benevolent funds £37,985. Investments at interest amount to £1,781,268. and the value of land and buildings stands at £204,218. Sickness returns for 1918 show that there were 14,767 claims for benefit, totalling £96,763, and the funeral benefit paid out was £66,042. Commenting on the war liabilities of societies, the Registrar observes:— “ With the termination of the war it is possible to visualise to some extent tlio effect of war expenses on tho finances of the soceties. Tho liabilities on this account have been dealt with under three headings, viz., war mortality, loss of soldier members’ contributions and after-discharge sickness. Tho provisions made to meet the first two contingencies can bo regarded as coaling satisfactorily with those problems, while the proposed establishment of the special funds to isolate the afterdischargo sickness of soldier members will enable that difficulty to bo handled on sound lines.” ■ The departmental war mortality reinsurance fund terminated its operations on March 31, 1919, and as soon as all liabilities against the fund arc received and charged a statement of thp result of tho operations of this co-operative scheme will be sent to each society. Hie sum of £38,069 los 9d has been provided by the Government since 1914 towards tho reinsurance fund, and up to March 31, 1919, the Government had paid £10,117 on account of rebates of soldier members’ contributions, and a further sum of £25,000 is estimated to provide for all liabilities under this heading.