H.—2

Annually-terminating Societies. These societies, thirteen in number, are formed very much on the same lines, providing only for sick-pay, or sick-pay and funeral allowances. As they never have any large amount of accumulated funds the question of safeguards as to investments scarcely arises. Elsewhere in this report your Commissioners have stated their views as to the merits of these associations. The societies which have formed the subject of investigation are the following, namely: McLeod Brothers' (Limited) Employes' Mutual Sick and Accident Society, Phoenix Company (Limited), Employes' Sick and Accident Society, Sargood, Son, and Ewen's Boot-factory Yearly Benefit Society, Eoslyn Worsted and Woollen Mills Yearly Benefit Society, Christchurch Eailway Annual Sick Benefit Society, Kaiapoi Clothing-factory Sick and Accident Benefit Society, Christchurch Eailway Employes' Sick Benefit Society, Ward and Company's Employes' Benefit Club, Kaiapoi Woollen Factory Sick and Accident Benefit Society, Stewart and Company's Workmen's Sick Club, " Palace " Boot-factory Employes' Sick Benefit Society, Kauri Timber Company's' Employes' Accident Belief Fund, and Timberworkers' Accident Belief Fund. In closing their report, your Commissioners desire to express their gratification at the willingness with which officers connected with the various societies have placed all necessary documents and data at the disposal of the Commission. Although in the mass of evidence that has been taken and is appended to this report there are, on some points, contradictory statements, yet on the whole it will not be difficult to arrive at a correct appreciation of the true facts of the case so far as the main issues of the inquiry are concerned. Your Commissioners desire also to commend the diligence and care with which Mr. J. Gray, the secretary and shorthand-writer to the Commission, has carried out his duties, in the performance of which, during the greater part of the inquiry, he was entirely unassisted. He was consequently required to work very long hours, and on this ground your Commissioners respectfully recommend him to favourable consideration. They now return to your Excellency the Commission, together with this report and the evidence appended thereto. In witness whereof they have hereunto set their hands and seals this thirtieth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven. (1.5.) Edward Tregear. (1.5.) Wm. J. Steward, (1.5.) George Fisher.

XI