H.—l

5

The total funds of the societies and branches as on the 31st December, 1918, amounted to £2, 00,443, made up as follows : Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £1,948,209 ; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c, £152,234. 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 £31 2s. Id. Taking the several years 1909-1918, the number of lodges whose returns were tabulated, the number of members, total funds, and average capital per member at the each year were as under : —

These sums are, of course, held against the societies' liabilities under their sickness and funeral insurances, and the actuarial reports issued from time to time indicate how far they are sufficient or otherwise. The above figures include the latest statistics received from lodges. The following statement shows the disposal of the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as on 31st December, 1918 : —

The next 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 Australian States and in the Dominion of New Zealand, according to the latest received statistics, arranged in order of membership : —

Sickness. The following comparative table of sickness experienced for 1917-18 is given : —

These figures indicate the heavy strain thrown on the funds of societies in 1918, and illustrate in a striking manner the value of benefit funds so constituted as to successfully bear the increased burden of the epidemic. In the large consolidated societies'jthe effect was hardly.jfelt, and only in some of the smaller and separate lodges has any anxiety been expressed. tIt is entirely to the credit of the registered friendly societies that they were prepared and able to meet this calamitous visitation and to succour during the year so large a number of persons.

Year. Number of Lodges tabulated. Number of Members. | Total Funds. Avorage Capital. L909 l910 911 .912 .913 .914 .915 .916 .917 .918 567 609 058 664 681 717 728 727 730 731 64,428 68,006 71,771 73,243 73,691 74,074 73,027 70,360 68,771 67,527 £ 1,266,297 1,367,282 1,441,353 1,553,339 1,643,177 1,744,456 1,852,355 1,954,940 2,052,753 2,100,443 £ s. d. 19 13 1 20 2 1 20 1 8 21 4 2 22 6 0 23 11 0 25 7 4 27 15 8 29 17 0 31 2 1

Funds. Assots. Siok and Funeral Funds Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c. .. Management Funds, goods, &c. Widow and Orphans' Funds Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. £ .. 1,873,510 74,699 97,285 16,964 37,985 Investments at interest .. Value of land and buildings Cash not bearing interest.. Value of goods Other assets Owing by Management Fund *.. £ .. 1,781,268 204,218 57,470 12,855 41,114 3,518 Total .. £2,100,443 Total .. £2,100,443

State or Dominion. Date of Return. Date of Return. Number of Lodges. Number of Members. Amount of Funds. Capital per Member. I New South Wales .. Victoria New Zealand South Australia Queensland Tasmania Western Australia .. i .. 31st Docember, 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1917 1,884 1,516 730 596 548 190 275 178,857 158,181 68,771 66,241 51,383 22,138 17,969 £ 2,113,754 3,017,503 2,052,753 1,323,067 902,210 245,666 274,546 £ s. d. 11 16 4 19 1 6 29 17 0 19 19 G 17 11 2 11 1 11 15 5 7

Year. Number Sick. Number Siok Period per MelnbeiFat - ■ per 100 at Risk. Sick Member. RiBk Per Member Per Siek-pay at Risk. Member Sick. ' per Week. Cost, 1917 .. 1918 .. 9,950 14,767 14-34 21-77 Weeks days. WeekB days. 11 5 14 9 3 2 0 £ s. d. 12 0 18 5 £ s. d. 7 14 0 6 11 1 £ s. d. 0 12 11 0 13 9