5

H.—l

24. A comparison of the actual and the expected sickness of all societies valued shows a total sickness less than the expectation by 3 per cent. But, when the sickness is analysed, the experience of those lodges which have been established more than twenty years is found to be higher than the expectation by 9 per cent., and that of those established more than thirty years by 27 per cent. The sickness of members under forty years of age is light, but the sickness of members above that age is about 20 per cent, greater than the expectation. 25. The following table shows very little variation in the total sickness of members of societies valued, as compared with English experience, although at the higher ages there is considerable difference in the distribution :—

Average Sickness per Member (Men only), in Quinquennial Age-periods, in Societies valued in the Office compared with the M.U. 1866-70 Experience.

26. The average sickness per death among New Zealand societies, as compared with the experience of the M.U. in England, is shown by the following table to be very high, the least difference for any quinquennial period being 14 per cent., and the greatest difference 157 per cent.

Ratio of Sickness to Mortality in Quinquennial Age-periods.

27. These figures may be interpreted to mean that one effect of a light mortality is to raise the sickness liability. The gain resulting from the postponement of the payment at death, as well as from the continuance of the annual contribution for a longer average period, is small in comparison with the possible and, it may be said, probable increase of expenditure on account of sickness. 28. The following table exhibits an exceedingly light mortality:—

Actual and Expected Mortality of Societies valued in the Office (Men Members only).

New Zeala: Ld Experience English ixperience. Age. First six Second six Months. Months. After twelve Months. Total. First six Months. Seoond six Months. After twelve Months. Total. Jnder 25 i5-3O .. S0-35 .. !5 40 .. tO-45 .. t5-50 .. iO-55 .. )5-60 iO-65 15-70 .. '0 and upwards .. 0-65 0-5G 0-65 0-70 0-79 1-00 1-28 1-43 1-86 2-17 2-76 0-04 0-05 0-06 005 G-09 012 0-24 033 0-39 0-51 1-80 0-08 0-04 0-00 0-11 0-32 0-57 0-95 1-77 2-58 6-66 13-56 0-77 0-65 0-77 0-86 1-20 1-69 2-47 3-53 4-82 9-34 18-12 0-68 0-71 0-77 0-85 0-96 1-14 1-42 1-82 2-40 3-24 3-91 0-04 005 0-07 0-08 0-12 0-17 0-24 0-38 063 1-08 1-57 0-02 0-05 0-08 0-13 0-20 0-36 0-5G 0-95 1-78 3-22 652 0-74 0-81 0-92 1-06 1-28 1-67 2-22 3-15 4-81 7-54 12-10

Amount of Expected Sickness (Weeks) Proportionate to Age. Number of Deaths. Amount of Actual Sickness (Weeks). Excess or Deficiency. + or - (Weeks). One Death. Number of Deaths. Jnder 25 15-80 !0-35 15-40 :0-45 :5~50 SO-55 S5-C0 JO-05 15-70 :0 and upwards 25 30 17 23 23 31 33 27 11 5 13 117 106 113 109 100 114 117 122 133 139 159 2,925 3,180 1,921 2,507 2,300 3,534 3,861 3,294 1,463 695 2,067 4,680 3,638 4,153 4,151 4,544 5,444 5,995 4,930 3,466 1.7S8 2,229 + 1,755 + 458 + 2,232 + 1,644 + 2,244 + 1,910 + 2,134 + 1,036 + 2,003 + 1,093 + 102 All ages 238 27,747 45,018 + 17,271

Number of Deaths in Societies valued on the Age. M.U. Experience 1868-70. I.O.E. Experience, 1878-87. Actual. Expected. Actual. Expected. Jnder 25 !5-30 .. 10-35 .. 55-40 .. 10-45 .. 15-50 iO-55 .. i5~60 .. JO-65 ., 55-70 .. '0 and upwards 20 20 11 21 19 24 29 23 10 4 13 26-54 32-17 36-20 38-54 36-00 36-19 36-14 28-13 20-57 8-37 9-52 5 10 6 2 4 7 4 4 1 1 10-56 6-37 5-85 5-62 5-99 7-24 6-77 6-18 4-35 1-20 0-49 All ages 194 60-62 308-37 44