3

H.—l

It will be seen by the foregoing that, while over 80 per cent, of the required returns were furnished during the first four months of the year, only 237 reached this office before the Ist April. Seeing that the figures embodied in the returns relate'to the year terminated in December, it does not seem too much to expect that the whole of the returns should be sent in some time during the first quarter of the year. A large amount of delay also arises in the compilation of the statistical tables, on account of the difficulty experienced in obtaining satisfactory corrections in the returns from a number of the branches of societies. It may also be pointed out that so long as one branch of a society withholds the particulars of its proceedings it is impossible to finally deal with the figures of such society, and that the dilatoriness of a few secretaries causes much loss of time in a variety of ways. With a view of remedying this tardiness the sanction of the Treasury was obtained for the prosecution of the secretary of Court Sir George Grey, A.0.P., Wellington. The case was tried in the Stipendiary Magistrate's Court, before Dr. McArthur, on the 27th June, and judgment obtained; the defendant being fined £2, and costs £3 175., in all £5 17s. It is hoped that this example will have a salutary effect upon procrastinating secretaries. The number of lodges* of the affiliated type whose returns are tabulated is 465 (being one less than the number received), and of central bodies 35, distributed according to Orders as follows:—

The number of defaulting secretaries in the several Orders is as follows : M.U.1.0.0.P., 2; 1.0.0. F., 10; A.0.F., 8; U.A.0.D., 2; 1.0. R., 1; H.A.C.8.5., 8 : total, 31. In Table I. details are given of the name, place, and year of establishment of each lodge, with the membership and funds of the same at the end of 1903. The funds under the control of the central bodies are also included in the district totals. In the final column is entered the average surplus or deficiency per member in each lodge, as shown at the last valuation. Tables 11. to VI. contain a summary of the details relating to the membership, mortality and sickness, receipts and expenditure, funds, and investments of each separately registered society, with totals for the several Orders. In Tables 111. to VI. shillings and pence have been omitted, there being no apparent advantage in publishing the values more accurately than as shown by the nearest pound. Membebship and Total Funds. The number of members in these 465 lodges at the beginning of 1903 was 43,052; the members admitted by initiation and reinstatement were 5,285 ; those admitted by clearance were 302 : total admitted, 5,587. The number who left by arrears, resignation, and expulsion was 2,719 ; by clearance, 311; and by death, 354 : total left, 3,384. The net increase for the year was 2,203, or slightly over 5 per cent., and the number of members at the end of 1903 was therefore 45,255. The deaths of members' wives during the year were 158. The total funds of the societies and branches as on the 31st December, 1903, amounted to £883,751, made up as follows : Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £815,082; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c, £68,669. Dividing the total funds by the number of members at the end of the year, it is found the average capital per member is now £19 10s. 7d. Taking the several years 1899-1903, the number of members, total funds, and average capital per member at the end of each were as under: —

The following balance-sheet gives the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1903 :— Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick ana Funeral Funds .. .. .. 789,612 Investments ac interest .. .'. .. 697,615 Surplus Appropriation Funds .. .. 25,470 Value of land and buildings .. • .. .. 130,848 Management Fund, goods, &a. .. .. 51,075 Cash not bearing interest .. .. .. 36,850 Widow and Orphans Funds .. .. .. 8,397 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 10,414 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &o. .. .. 8,243 Other assets .. .. .. .. 6,363 Juvenile Funds .. .. .. .. 954 Owing by Management Fund .. .. 1,661 £883,751 I £883,751 • The word " lodge," when applied to all societies, is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms " court," " tent," &0., as used in the various Orders.

Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. Society. Central Bodies. Lodges. M.U.I.O.O.P. I.O.O.F. .. N.I.O.O.F... B.U.O.O.F. A.O.F. A.O.S. .. r 18 1 1 S 165 29 2 1 113 1 U.A.O.D. .. I.O.R. S.D.T. H.A.C.B.S. P.A.F.S.A. B.E.B.S. .. 3 2 1 75 40 10 18 10 1 i

Year. No. of Members. Total Funds. Average Capital. 1899.. 1900.. 1901.. 1902.. 1903.. 38,202 40,257 41,236 43,408 45,255 £ 728,249 766,480 804,753 846,315 883,751 £ s. d. 19 1 3 19 0 9 19 10 4 19 9 11 19 10 7