H.—l.

U.A.O.D.—The Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand ; Grand Lodge of Canterbury, New Zealand (2) ; Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, New Zealand. 1.0.R. —The New Zealand District; The New Zealand Central District. S. and D.T. —Antidote Division. H.A.C.B.S.—The New Zealand District. P.A.F.S.A. —The, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia (2). G.U.O.O.F.—The Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society of New Zealand. I.F.S. —The Huntly Collieries and District Medical Association ; Millerton Colliery Medical and Accident Relief Association ; Kaitangata and District Miners' Benefit Society; Christchurch United Friendly Societies' Dispensary ; The Auckland Transport Club ; Point Elizabeth Accident Relief Fund ; Stockton Colliery Medical and Accident Relief Association ; Eden Temperance Benefit Friendly Society ; Grey Valley Coal-miners' Medical Fund Society ; Te Akatea Miners' and Settlers' Medical Association ; Hastings District United Friendly Societies' Association (2) ; Blackball Medical Club ; Marlborough United Friendly Societies' Dispensary ; The Waiuta Miners' Medical Association (2) ; Public Works Medical Association ; Okaihau Railway Construction Workers' Medical Association (2) ; Auckland City Council Employees Voluntary Sick and Accident Society ; Paparoa Miners' Medical Club ; Temuka United Friendly Societies' Dispensary ; and The Mokihinui Valley Medical Association. W.M.C.—Waipukurau Cosmopolitan Club. S.A.S. —Hawke's Bay United Friendly Societies' Dispensary and Wellington United Friendly Societies' Dispensary. 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, 1932. Name of Society. Bodies 1 Brano}les - M.U.1.0.0.F .. .. .. .. °2 168 ' 8 1.0.0. F. ...... 1 A.O.F . 1 4 U.A.O.D 8 1.0.R 7 H.A.C.B. 1 19 P.A.F.S.A i 1.F.5., &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 24 4 72 w v > 76 Statistics of Membership and Funds. The following table shows the membership of 912 lodges* of the Dominion for the year 1931 :— Number of members, Ist January .. .. .. .. 107,167 Number admitted by— Initiation, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 6,109 Clearance .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,109 — 7,218 114,385 Number who died .. .. .. .. .. 874 Number who left by— Clearance .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,121 Arrears, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 6,730 — 8,725 Number of members, 31st December .. .. .. 105,660 ■■ The above figures show a decrease in membership equal to 1-41 per cent., as compared with an increase of 1-91 per cent, for 1930. The total funds of the societies and branches as at the 31st December, 1931, amounted to £4,277,715, made up as follows : Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £3,965,149; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c., £312,566. 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 £40 9s. 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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