R. E. HAYF.S.]

33

1.—15.

•'!•'!. Take the A.M. P. Society: I have a bulletin here which shows that every person aged thirty lias to pay a contribution of £3 ss. per annum for .£100; yet the management in connection with that particular institution requires over 80 per cent, of the money for office expenses and government? — That is more a question for the Actuary. 34. Now, speaking generally, the management expenses of friendly societies are very low indeed?— They do not come into the tables we quote at all. The table I quoted in comparison with the industrial insurance does not include management expenses at all for friendly societies. 35. Following up the A.M.P. Society's rate, that leaves 7s. 10d. for the purposes of insurance, yet it is admitted that, so far as the Druids are concerned, in connection with the levy system it is only Bs. ? —That is a point you might ask the Actuary about. 36. Have you any idea of the actuarial position in America? —No, I do not think they are valued as the New Zealand Societies are. 37. Mr. Stall-worthy.] Is there anything in the Bill objecting to the positions of secretary and treasurer being held by one person?— No. 38. Is it your experience that the system of the Druids has a tendency of increasing their lapses?—l cannot say. 39. Can you tell what the lapses in the Druids have been?—My annual report, at page 40, gives the number of members who left the Druids, by which it appears there were 835 last year. 40. How does that compare with the others?— The Manchester Unity, New Zealand Branch, is 644. 41. Have the Druids a higher percentage of lapses?—lt would seem to be a bit higher. The Foresters had 697 lapses; but Ido not think their membership is so high. The total membership of the Manchester Unity was 21,049: Foresters, 14,465: Druids, 11,572. The table shows the entrants and those who left through arrears. The total lapses from the whole Manchester Unity were 1,034; Foresters, 697; and the Druids, 835. 42. Mr. Poland.] Would you add the admissions during the same period?— Admitted by the Manchester Unity, 2,052; by the Foresters, 1,566; by the Druids, 2,576. 43. Mr. Tanner.] Then the Druids lost about one-third or nearly a third of those who entered, while the other societies lost nearly a half?— The Druids lost about a third and the others a half. , 44. The Chairman.] Will you make out a short table in regard to that information, and hand it in to the Committee —say, for ten years?— Yes. I will furnish it with my evidence.

Friendly Societies' Membership, 1898 to 1907.

s—l. 15.

Name of Order. Year. Nui At End of Year. Nui iber of Members. Percentage if Members. Ratio per Gent. of Lapses to Admissions. Admitted by Initiation. Left by Arrears. Admitted. Lapsed. H.U.I.O.O.F. 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 13,944 15,192 16,043 16,800 17,315 18,021 18,537 19,435 20,155 21,049 1,649 1,754 1,833 1,710 1,643 1,829 1,626 1,888 1,926 1,948 787 921 971 965 1,101 947 968 973 1,030 1,034 11-8 11-5 11-4 102 9-5 101 8-8 9-7 9-6 9-3 5-6 6-1 61 5-7 6-4 5-3 5-2 5-0 5-1 4-9 47-7 52-5 530 56-4 67-0 51.8 59-5 51-5 53-5 53-1 .O.O.F. 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1,501 1,550 1,941 2,009 2,148 2,196 2,421 2,607 2,961 3,832 176 216 315 253 326 303 297 308 446 986 147 116 173 131 147 166 167 195 250 240 11-7 13-9 16-2 12-6 15-2 13'8 12'3 11-8 15-1 25-7 9-8 7-5 8-9 6-5 6-8 7-6 6-9 7-5 8-4 6-3 83-5 53-7 54-9 51-8 45-1 54-8 56-2 63-3 561 243 .O.F. 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 10,713 11,251 11,487 11,519 11,797 12,079 12,830 13,342 14,087 14,465 1,209 1,203 1,181 1,096 1,087 1,116 1,393 1,839 1,364 1,506 728 727 661 696 707 702 719 758 727 697 11-3 10-7 10-3 9-5 9-2 9-2 10-9 100 9-7 10-4 6-8 6-5 5-8 60 60 5-8 5-6 5-7 5-2 4-8 60-2 60-4 560 635 650 62-9 51-6 56-6 53-3 46-3