H.—lo

ISBO. NEW ZEALAND.

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

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

EEPORT. As the two previous reports were for the periods respectively ending on the 30th June in each year, it was considered desirable, notwithstanding the earlier meeting of Parliament this year, to continue the report for the year ending on the same date, so as, if possible, to include in the report the latest particulars of the receipts and expenditure, funds and effects of societies, which they are required by the 13th section of " The Friendly Societies Act, 1877," to send to the Registrar on or before the Ist of April in each year ; but, on account of the delay in the transmission of these returns, and the time occupied by the examination of them when received, and by the correspondence necessary for the correction of palpable errors or the supply of deficient particulars, it has been found impossible to present with this report a full compilation of these returns for the year 1879. A brief abstract of the most salient features of the returns has been given in Schedule I. hereto. A full compilation of the results of the returns for the year 1878 has been made, and the tables are ready for printing; but the pressure of parliamentary work in the Government Printing Office renders it so improbable that the tables could be printed in time for presentation to the General Assembly during the current session that it has not been deemed expedient to hold this report over an} 7 longer in expectation of including them. These tables, with accompanying remarks, will be separately published, and circulated as soon as possible. The difficulty experienced in dealing with these tables, in consequence of the earlier period of the year at which the General Assembly has met, and will probably meet for the future, may render it desirable to make the next report for the six months terminating on the 31st December next, so that subsequent reports may embrace the calendar year, and time may be afforded for preparing the report before the meeting of Parliament. I.—BUSINESS OF THE REGISTRY OFFICE., 1. Depaetjientat. "VVoek during the Year ended 30th June, 1880. The work of framing regulations, and the publication and issue of model tables of contributions, referred to in the last report, has not recurred during the past year. Unless any changes in details are required, or additional tables of contributions for special purposes (e.g., for annuities, instead of sick payments, after certain ages), the work, from its very nature, once done, remains. The Transference on to Cards of Information given in tlie Returns of Sickness and Mortality. — This work is now kept up annually in respect of members who were sick, died, or seceded during the year. The original transcription of all the members' names, &c, on cards having been once effected, ithe annual labour is not extreme; and, by 4ealing with the particulars of sickness and mortality annually, the work that would otherwise be thrown upon the office at the end of the quinquennium is largely reduced. A large amount of time has, however, been occupied in the careful examination of the quinquennial returns. (See p. 7 below.) The Compilation of the Statistical Tables for 1878. —This work of considerable magnitude has been dealt with, but, for reasons already given as to difficulties in printing, the tables have not been appended hereto. The Statistical Tables for 1879. —An attempt has been made to compile the tables for 1879 ; although they are in a very forward state, still, on account of the neglect of some societies in the prompt transmission of their returns, the compilation made is as yet in an unsatisfactory condition. An abstract of some few leading features in respect of those societies from which returns have been received is, however, appended to this report. The general work of the office in the administration of the Friendly Societies Acts, 1877 and 1878 —the examination of returns and issue of queries on defects or errors therein, the correspondence relating to registration and what may be necessary to secure compliance with the Acts, the general procedure connected with registration or cancelment thereof, the recording changes of officers of societies, and other details —occupies a considerable amount of time, and is similar in character from year to year. 2. Societies Registered during the Year. The following societies have been registered during the year [the numbers given are the register numbers] : — No. 150. — The Hawke's Bay District of the Ancient Order of Foresters. —This district comprises five courts, all of which were registered as branches at the same time as the district itself. (See under.) No. 151.— The Wellington Working-men's Club and Literary Institute. —Eegistered under section 7 (4) of the Act. I—H. 19.