FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND TRADE-UNIONS SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1944

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1945 Session I, H-01

1

1945 NEW ZEALAND

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND TRADE-UNIONS SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1944

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, Section 9, and the Trade-unions Act, 1908, Section 16

The Registrar of Friendly Societies to the Hon. the Minister Sir, — Wellington, Ist July, 1945. I have the honour to submit the annual report of this Office for the year ended 31st December, 19'44, in accordance with the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, section 9, and the Tradeunions Act, 1908, section 16. I have, &c., G. E. Bradley, Registrar of Friendly Societies.

REPORT Mr. R. Sinel, who had held the office of Registrar since 1936, retired from the service in November. PART I.—FRIENDLY SOCIETIES Registrations There was registered during the year one society, as follows —S.A.S. : Wellington Hibernian Credit Union. * The following registrations were cancelled by request—M.U.l.O.O.F. : Karangahake Lodge (Auckland District). L0.0.F. : Vincent Lodge. U.A.O.D. : Shannon Lodge (Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand) and Acorn Lodge (Grand Lodge of Canterbury, New Zealand). 11.A.C.8.5. : St. Francis de Sales Branch No. 727 and St. Francis' Branch No. 884 (New Zealand District). I.F.S. : The Syrian Benevolent Society and the Inangahua Valley Medical Association. Instruments of dissolution were registered as follows—l.F.S. : The Wellington Corporation Tramways and Electric Lighting Friendly Society, Temuka United Friendly Societies' Dispensary, and Millerton Colliery Employees' Benevolent Society. S.A.S. : Linwood Co-operative Money Club. There were 1,072 registrations at 31st December, 1944. Rules The rules of forty societies and branches were amended during 1944, ten by complete amendment and thirty by partial amendment. Statistics of Membership and Funds The number of members of 915 lodges* at the end of 1944 was 85,091, as compared with 88,007 at 1943. This shows a decrease of 2,916, equal to 3-31 per cent., as compared with 3-84 per cent, for 1943. The total funds of the societies and branches as at 31st December, 1944, amounted to £6,018,831, made up as follows : Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £5,500,282 ; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c., £518,549. 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 £70 14s. Bd.

* The word " lodge " when applied to all societies is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms " court," " tent," &c., as used in the various orders.

H.—i

The following statement shows the disposal of the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as at the 31st December, 1944 : —

The number of members sick during 1944 was 16,631, equal to 19-6 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1944 was 308,798 weeks, equal to 18 weeks 3 days per sick member, and 3 weeks 4 days for each member at risk. Mortality The number of members who died during 1944 was 1,350, equal to 15-48 per 1,000 members at risk. The number of wives of members who died was 383. Sick and Funeral Funds The contributions and entrance fees paid to Sick and Funeral Funds in 1944 amounted to £160,861. Divided by the mean number of members, the average for 1944 was £1 17s. 2d., as against £1 15s. 9d. for 1943. The interest and rent received by the lodges and central bodies amounted to £210,863 in 1944, equal to £2 Bs. 9d. per member, as against £2 6s. Id. for 1943. The amount of sickness benefit paid was £174,757 in 1944, equal to £10 10s. 2d. per member sick, and £2 os. sd. per member, as against £10 2s. sd. and £1 19s. sd. respectively for 1943. Viewing the amount paid in relation to the weeks of sickness, the average benefit per week is found to be lis. 4d. in 1944, as against lis. sd. for 1943. The funeral benefit paid amounted to £68,892 in 1944, equal to 15s. lid. per member, as compared with 14s. 6d. for 1943. The total worth of the Sick and Funeral Funds at the beginning of 1944 was £4,757,050, and at the end of the year £4,854,299. Investment of Funds The net income from investments credited to the Sick and Funeral Funds for 1944 amounted to £210,863, the average rate being £4 9s. 9d. per cent., as against £4 9s. 4d. in 1943. PART lI.—TRADE-UNIONS The registration of one trade-union was cancelled during the year —viz., Puponga Coal Miners' Society. One partial amendment of rules was registered—New Zealand Glass Workers' Union. There were four unions on the register at the end of the year.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (620 copies), £4.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94s.

Price, 3(2.]

2

Funds. Assets. £ £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 4,854,299 Investments at interest .. .. .. 5,354,189 Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c. .. .. 645,983 Value of land and buildings .. .. 407,292 Management Funds, goods, &c. .. .. 271,257 Cash not bearing interest .. .. 207,875 Widow and Orphans'Funds .. .. 32,723 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 19,194 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. .. .. 214,569 Other assets .. .. .. .. 27,947 Owing by Management Funds .. .. 2,334 Total .. .. .. •• £6,018,831 Total .. .. .. .. £6,018,831