H.—l.

Taking the several years 1922-1931, 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, 1931 : —

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, 1930, arranged in order of membership : —

Sickness. The number of members sick during 1931 was 21,886, equal to 22-0 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1931 was 231,038 weeks, equal to 10 weeks 3 days per sick member, and 2 weeks 2 days for each member at risk. Mortality. A statement of the average mortality experienced during the years 1927-31 is given below, but it takes no account of age incidence : —

4

""^tabulated 3868 ofti. Total Fund,. Average Capital. £ £ s. d. 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 1931 .. .. .. 912 105,660 4,277,715 40 9 9

Funds. Assets. £ £ Sick and Funeral Funds <. .. .. 3,623,299 Investments at interest .. .. .. 3,664,776 Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c. .. .. 341,850 Value of land and buildings .. .. 459,367 Management Funds, goods, &c. .. .. 178,667 Cash not bearing interest.. .. .. 96,764 Widow and Orphans'Funds .. .. 30,015 Value of goods .. .. .. 23,672 Distress, Benevolent Funds, &e. .. .. 103,884 Other assets .. .. .. . ■ 27,237 Owing by Management Funds .. .. 5,899 Total .. .. .. .. £4,277,715 Total .. .. .. .. £4,277,715

Number Number Amount Capital State or Dominion. Date of Return. of of of per Lodges. Members. Funds. Member. £ £ s. d. New South Wales .. .. .. 30th June, 1930 .. 2,511 252,086 4,000,944 15 17 5 Victoria ... .. .. .. „ „ 1,471 164,899 5,120,417 31 1 0 New Zealand .. .. .. 31st Dec., ,, .. 906 107,167 4,130,117 38 10 9 South Australia „ 1929 .. 724 77,785 2,329,759 29 19 0 Queensland .. .. . . 30th June, ,, .. 592 67,361 1,610,988 23 18 4 Tasmania 31st Dec., „ .. 194 27,160 405,063 16 2 5 Western Australia .. .. .. 30th June, 1930 .. 353 24,993 470,236 18 16 4

Members. Wives. Year. Number who died. Semte7at fifsk! Number who died. 1927.. .. .. .. .. 776 7-98 320 3-29 1928 .. .. .. •• 756 7-56 341 3-41 1929.. .. .. .. •• 868 8-39 363 3-51 1930.. .. .. .. .. 821 7-70 334 3-13 1931.. .. .. .. •• 874 8-18 372 3-48