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190a. NEW ZEALAND.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES (TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to " The Friendly Societies Act, 1882," Section 5, Subsection (8).

By the statute above mentioned the Registrar is required every year to " lay before the General Assembly a report of his proceedings and of the principal matters transacted by him, and of the valuations returned to or caused to be made by the Registrar during the year preceding." Mr. Edmund Mason, who had held the office of Registrar of Friendly Societies since 1885, and in that capacity rendered great service to the provident classes by the exposition and inculcation of sound principles of finance in connection with the business of friendly societies, died suddenly on the 27th June, 1902, and Mr. George Leslie, Assistant Actuary of the Government Life Insurance Department, was appointed to succeed him. TRANSACTIONS DURING THE YEAR 1902. Registration of Societies and Branches. The total number of registrations during the year 1902 was 17, distributed thus: M.U.I.O.O.F.,* 1 society and 3 lodges; I.O.O.F., 1 lodge; B.U.O.O.F., 1 lodge; A.O.F., 3 courts; U.A.O.D., 6 lodges; I.F.S., 1 society; W.M.G, 1 club. Of the societies registered during the year, one, the New Zealand Branch of the Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is the first of its class in the colony, inasmuch as it conforms to the threefold division of the highest type of the federated or affiliated form of society composed of society (or order), districts, and lodges. The promoters of this society appear to have been of opinion that a federation of districts would unite the vigilance of local management with the directing and correcting influences of a central authority, having a larger outlook, and composed of the best minds in the several districts affiliating. The society was registered on the 30th July, and before the end of the year the legal status of one district had been changed to that of a " branch," and the conversion of several others was in progress. In the following table the progress of registration during the year is shown by a comparison of the number of societies and branches on the register as at the beginning and end of the year respectively.

Name or Class of Society. Statement as on the 1st January, 1902. Statement as on the 31st December, 1902. M.U.I.O.O.F. 16 districts, 164 lodges, 1 juvenile lodge, and 1 widow and orphan society 1 grand lodge and 39 lodges 1 district and 2 lodges 1 district and 1 lodge 8 districts, 121 courts, and 2 juvenile courts 1 sanctuary 3 grand lodges and 64 lodges 2 districts and 41 tents 1 grand division and 10 divisions 1 district and 25 branches 1 grand lodge and 12 lodges 2 societies 10 societies 14 clubs 1 grand lodge, 53 subordinate lodges, and 2 temples 24 societies 1 society, 16 districts, 167 lodges, 1 juvenile lodge, and 1 widow and orphan society. 1 grand lodge and 39 lodges. 1 district and 2 lodges. 1 lodge. 8 districts, 123 courts, and 2 juvenile courts. 1 sanctuary. 3 grand lodges and 70 lodges. 2 districts and 41 tents. 1 grand division and 10 divisions. 1 district and 22 branches. 1 grand lodge and 10 lodges. I society. II societies. 15 clubs. 1 grand lodge, 53 subordinate lodges, and 2 temples. 24 societies. I.O.O.P. N.I.O.O.P. .. B.U.O.O.P. .. A.O.P. A.O.S. U.A.O.D. I.O.R. S.D.T. H.A.C.B.S. .. P.A.P.S.A. .. R.E.B.S. I.F.S. W.M.C. I.O.G.T. S.A.S. * LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS MADE USE O .O.F., Ancient Order of Foresters. A.O.S., Ancient Order of Shephen Fellows. H.A.C.B.S., Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit I.O.G.T., Independent Order of Good Templars. I.O.O.P., Ind Constitution). I.O.R., Independent Order of Rechabites. M.' Order of Odd Fellows. N.I.O.O.F., National Independent Ord Allianoe Friendly Society of Australasia. R.E.B.S., Railway En Authorised Society. S.D.T., Sons and Daughters of Temperanoe W.M.C. Working-men's Club. )F IN THIS REPORT. :ds. B.U.O.O.P., British United Order of Odd Society. I.P.S., Isolated Friendly Society, lependent Order of Odd Fellows (American .U.I.O.O.F., Manchester Unity Independent ler of Odd Fellows. P.A.P.S.A., Protestant mployees' Benefit Society. S.A.S., Specially s. U.A.O.D., United Ancient Order of Druids.