H—l.

Taking the several years 1921-1930, the number of lodges whose returns were tabulated, the number of members, total funds, and average capital per member at the end of 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 at the 31st December, 1930 : —

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 according to the latest received statistics, and in the Dominion of New Zealand as at the 31st December, 1929, arranged in order of membership : —

Sickness. The number of members sick during 1930 was 20,163, equal to 20-5 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1930 was 212,754 weeks, equal to 10 weeks 3 days per sick member, and 2 weeks 1 day for each member at risk.

4

Year Number of Lodges , ] l uml ? er Total Funds. Average Capital. IHa,r ' tabulated. of Members , ° L £ £ s. d. 1921 .. .. .. 731 77,814 2,445,843 31 8 8 1922 .. .. .. 746 80,777 2,593,692 32 2 2 1923 . .. .. 774 84,228 2,747,952 32 12 6 1924 .. .. .. 782 87,433 2,955,340 33 16 0 1925 .. .. .. 817 91,353 3,136,237 34 6 7 1926 .. .. .. 843 94,467 3,337,683 35 6 8 1927 .. .. .. 864 98,251 3,526,717 35 17 11 1928 .. .. .. 885 100,928 3,728,087 36 18 9 1929 .. .. .. 900 105,154 3,927,433 37 7 0 1930 .. .. .. 906 107,167 4,130,117 38 10 9 i

Funds. Assets. £ £ Sick and Funeral Funds .. .. .. 3,496,609 Investments at interest .. .. .. 3,540,367 Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c... .. 332,107 Value of land and buildings .. .. 440,899 Management Funds, goods, &e. .. .. 183,999 Cash not bearing interest .. .. 97,761 Widow and Orphans'Funds .. .. 28,973 Value of goods .. .. .. .. 23,849 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. .. .. 88,429 Other assets .. .. .. .. 22,123 Owing by Management Funds .. .. 5,118 Total .. .. .. .. £4,130,117 Total .. .. .. .. £4,130,117

Number Number Amount Capital State or Dominion. Date of Eeturn. of of of per Lodges. Members. Funds. Member. £ £ s. d. New South Wales .. .. .. 30th June, 1929 .. ! 2,490 247,730 3,835,785 15 9 8 Victoria .. .. .. .. „ „ 1,484 164,307 4,934,020 30 0 7 New Zealand .. .. .. 31st Dec, „ .. 900 105,154 3,927,433 37 7 0 South Australia „ 1928 .. 699 78,284 2,251,253 28 15 2 Queensland .. .. .. 30th June, „ .. 578 67,057 1,549,112 23 2 0 Tasmania.. 31st Dee., „ .. 186 24,958 388,772 15 11 7 Western Australia .. .. .. 30th June, 1929 .. 350 24,491 439,242 17 18 8