3

H.—l

Membership and Funds. The following table shows the increased membership in 516 lodges* which furnished returns lor 1907 :—

* The word " lodge," when applied to all societies, is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms " court," " tent," &c, as used in the various orders. The increase during 1907 was 7'6-per cent., as compared with 6-01 per cent, for 1906. The total funds of the societies and branches as on the 31st December, 1907, amounted to £1,118,216 18s. lid., made up as follows: Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £1,033,477 6s. 10d., Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c.,, £84,739 12s. Id. 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 13s. 7d. Taking the several years 1900-1907, the number of lodges whose returns were tabulated, the number of members, total funds, and average capital per member at the end of each were as under : —

The following statement shows the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on the 31st December, 1907 :—

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

fumber of members, 1st January fumbor admitted by— Initiation, &o. Clearance 7,690 418 52,806 fumber who died fumber left by— Clearance .. Arrears, &c. 385 60,014 447 3,265 fumber of members at 31st December 56,817

Year. Number of Lodges tabulated. Number of Members. Total Funds. Average Capital. ;900 .901 .902 .903 .904 .905 .906 .907 443 445 462 465 479 501 500 516 40,257 41,236 43,408 45,255 47,302 51,103 53,759 56,817 £ 766,480 804,753 846,315 883,751 936,388 996,224 1,057,821 1,118,217 £ 8. d. 19 0 9 19 10 4 19 9 II 19 10 7 19 J5 11 19 9 11 19 13 6 19 13 7

Funds. Assets. Sick and Funeral Funds .. Surplus Appropriation Funds Management Fund, goods, &c. Widow and Orphans' Funds Distress, Benovolent Funds, &c. £ 1,005,084 28,393 63,137 9,926 11,677 Investments at interest .. Value of land and buildings Cash not bearing interest Value of goods Other assets Owing by Management Fund £ 912,654 143,527 41,807 11,524 7,363 1,342 Total .. 1,118,217 Total .. 1,118,217

Stale or Dominion. D&tu of Return. Number of LodgM. Number of Members. Amount .it Funds. Capital per Member. Victoria Jew South Wales .. Jew Zealand South Australia Queensland 'asmania.. Veetern Australia .. .. 31st December, 1906 1906 1906 1904 1905 1904 1906 1,351 1,314 500 493 405 166 237 £ 116,562 1,708,346 107,723 1,069,975 53,759 1,057,821 49,241 676,040 32,1(11 359,371 16,287 186,786 14,630 108,286 £ s. d. 14 13 2 9 18 8 19 13 6 13 14 7 11 3 6 8 7 11 7 8 0