H.—l

8

The following table shows the number of members of friendly societies, the amount of their accumulated capital, and the average capital per member in each of the Australasian States and in the Colony of New Zealand, according to the latest received statistics, arranged in order of membership :—-

Trade-unions. There were no registrations under "The Trade-union Act, 1878," during the year. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, allowing trade-unions to be registered as industrial unions, is bringing about the cancellation of a number of registrations under the former statute, as the provisions of the two Acts are somewhat in conflict. A list of registered trade-unions, as on the 31st December, 1902, is given in Appendix III. Geo. Leslie, 30th July, 1903. Eegistrar of Friendly Societies and Trade-unions.

State or Colony. Date of Return. Number of Lodges. Number of Members. Amount of Funds. Capital per Member. Victoria few South Wales Tew Zealand South Australia Queensland 'asmania Vestern Australia .. 31st December, 1900 .. 1897 .. 1901 .. 1899 .. 1901 .. 1899 .. 1900 .. 1,111 817 445 396 361 117 108 97,937 69,124 41,236 39,346 31,167 12,883 6,890 £ 1,316,370 596,463 804,753 535,198 269,111 100,562 46,306 £ s. d. 13 8 10 8 12 7 19 10 4 13 12 1 8 12 4 7 16 1 6 14 5