H.—l.

U.A.O.D.—Grand Lodge of Canterbury, New Zealand ; and Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, New Zealand (2). B.D.T.—Antidote Division. I.F.S.— Widow and Orphans' Society, Wellington District, M.U.1.0.0.F. ; Millerton Colliery Medical and Accident Relief Association; Kaitangata and District Miners' Benefit Society ; The Auckland Transport Club ; The Devonport United Friendly Societies' Dispensary ; Hikurangi and Wilson's Collieries Medical Society ; The Manawatu United Friendly Societies' Hospital Association ; Taranaki Hospital District Friendly Societies' Association; The Wellington Municipal Employees' Sick Benefit and Death Levy Society ; and The Mokihinui Valley Medical Association. W.M.C.—Blenheim Working-men's Club (2). S.A.S. —The Christchurch and New Brighton Co-operative Money Club. Annual Returns of Receipts and Expenditure, etc. The Friendly Societies Act requires these returns to reach me on or before the 31st March in each year. The number outstanding at that date in the respective societies was as follows :— Annual Returns outstanding at 31st March, 1931. Name of Society. Bodies Branches. M.U.1.0.0.F. 3 1.0.0. F. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 5 N.1.0.0.F. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1 A.O.F 2 16 A.O.S 1 U.A.O.D 11 1.0. R. .. .. .. .. •• •• .... 7 H.A.C.B.S 1 17 P.A.F.S.A 1 G.U.0.0.F 1 1.F.5., &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 29 4 91 95 Statistics of Membership and Funds. The following table shows the membership of 906 lodges* of the Dominion for the year 1930 :— Number of members, Ist January .. .. .. •■ •• 105,154 Number admitted by — Initiation, &c... .. .. .. .. .. 8,523 Clearance .. .. .. .. . • .. 1,267 9,790 . 114,944 Number who died .. .. .. .. .. • • 821 Number who left by— Clearance .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,306 Arrears, &c. .. .. .. •• •• •• 5,650 7,777 Number of members, 31st December .. .. .. 107,167 The above figures show an increase in membership equal to 1-91 per cent., as compared with 4-19 per cent, for 1929. The total funds of the societies and branches as at the 31st December, 1930, amounted to £4,130,117, made up as follows : Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £3,828,716 ; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c, £301,401. 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 £38 10s. 9d.

* 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.

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