H.—l2

Sess. 1L—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES (SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, BY THE REGISTRAR OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, pursuant to " The Friendly Societies Act, 1877," Section 9, Subsection 6.

REPORT. I.—BUSINESS OF THE REGISTRY OFFICE. 1. Departmental Work during Tear ended 30th June, 1879. As the Registrar's first report was for the six months ended the 30th June, 1878, it has been thought desirable, for the purpose of submitting a report for a whole year, to make this report cover the operations for the year ended the 30th June, 1879, instead of the 31st December, 1878. The departmental work of the office cannot be measured by the number of registrations effected, as a large amount of labour and correspondence is thrown upon the Registrar in dealing with other matters essential to the due and efficient administration of the Act. The following enumeration of matters attended to and work done during the year will indicate in a measure the general character of the duties to be performed : — (a.) The Consideration of the contemplated Provisions of "The Friendly Societies Amendment Act, 1878;" the Preparation of Regulations thereunder; and the Revision of Model Rules necessitated thereby. —The necessity for amendments to " The Friendly Societies Act, 1877," having become apparent from the experience acquired in the administration of that Act, the consideration of the nature and form of proposals for such amendment, and the correspondence with societies in relation to such proposals, devolved upon the Registrar. As a result of the passing of the Act, additional regulations had to be framed and, having been approved by the G-overnor, to be issued to societies. The model rules framed for the guidance of societies were revised to embrace the additional requirements of the Amendment Act. When this Act was circulated, a memorandum, drawn up by the Registrar, explanatory of the provisions of the Act, was forwarded therewith. (S.) Framing Regulations under " The Trade Union Act, 1878."—The Registrar of Friendly Societies being, m terms of this Act, Registrar thereunder, it became necessary to consider the provisions of the Act and to frame regulations for procedure. This has been done. (c.) The Compilation of the Statistical Tables for 1877. —This represents a very large amount of work, the results of which will be specially dealt with further on. (d.) The Transference on to Cards of Information given in the Quinquennial Return of Sickness and Mortality in respect of about 10,000 Persons. —The effect and advantages of this system will be referred to further on. This transference is a step precedent to tabulation of the information given, and is a tedious operation. This work has been completed. (<s.) The Examination of these Returns, and the Issue to Societies of Queries on Defects and Errors therein. (f.) Advice tendered to many Friendly Societies on Points of Internal Management, Scales of Contributions, <§'c. —With the desire of making the administration of the Friendly Societies Act of benefit to the various societies, and inducing societies to take advantage of its provisions, the Registrar has at all times willingly responded to requests for advice asked for, although at times involving much consideration of the intention and provisions of the Act. (y.) Publication and Issue of Model Tables of Contributions, with Explanatory Observations. — These very important tables have been completed since the issue of the previous report, and have been distributed to the societies. As the majority of the societies were working under scales of contributions that would be deemed by actuaries as inadequate to meet, in the future, the benefits promised, the advantage of laying before these societies a trustworthy table cannot be overrated, as they will be able to discover where the insufficiency of their contributions may be, and, if really desirous of preserving their solvency, have a guide as to the measure of alteration to be made. In some cases societies have been anxious for the issue and adoption of these tables, as tending to give a more assured tone to their financial position. When issuing these tables the Registrar issued a circular-memorandum explanatory of them, and tho mode of applying them, and urging their adoption by societies. These tables and circular are appended as a schedule to this report. (/*.) Lengthy Correspondence with Societies, arising from Mistakes in Applications for Reqistn/ or from Rules submitted not complying with the Act. —lt would be a difficult matter to distinguish' the I—H. 12.