"D H.—l.

1934. NEW ZEALAND.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND TRADE-UNIONS. FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1933.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Friendly Societies Act, ]909, Section 9, and the Trade-unions Act, 1908, Section 16.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies to the Hon. the Minister. Sir, — Wellington, Ist July, 1934. I have the honour to submit the annual report of this Office for the year ended 31st December, 1933, in accordance with the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, section 9, and the Tradeunions Act, 1908, section 16. I have, &c., R. Witheford, Registrar of Friendly Societies.

REPORT.

General. Membership of friendly societies decreased during the year from 102,052 to 100,237, representing a loss of 1,815, equal to 1-78 per cent. The total accumulated funds of societies increased from £4,398,158 to £4,538,095, an increase of £139,937, and the average capital per member from £43 Is. lid. to £45 ss. 6d. Net interest credited to the Sick and Funeral Funds during the year amounted to £160,816, equal to a rate of £4 7s. 6d. per cent., as compared with £4 lis. lOd. per cent, during 1932. The average contributions and interest per member credited to the Sick and Funeral Funds increased from £3 6s. 7d. to £3 7s. sd. and the cost of sickness and funeral benefits from £1 16s. 4d. to £1 18s. The total net gain in these particular funds for the year amounted to 13s. 9d. per member. The number of members who died was 852, equal to 8-39 per thousand members at risk, as compared with 834 and 8-00 respectively during 1932. Registrations. There were registered during the past year nine new branches, as follows : M.U.1.0.0.F. : Okato Lodge (Taranaki District). 1.0.0. F. : Matua Waikato Rebekah Lodge, Rose of Kawa Kawa Rebekah Lodge, Te Koutu Rebekah Lodge, and Te Waimate Rebekah Lodge. H.A.C.8.5.: Holy Cross Branch, St. Tberese Branch, and Sacred Heart Branch (Takaka). P.A.F.S.A. : Pride of Valley True Blue Lodge. There were also two isolated friendly societies : The South Otago Friendly Societies' Hospital Benefit Association and The Huntly and Renown District Coal-miners' Medical Club ; and one specially authorized friendly society : Auckland Co-operative Money Society. The following registrations were cancelled by request: M.U.1.0.0.F. : Palmyra Lodge (Nelson District). 1.0.0. F. : Star of Hokianga Lodge. U.A.O.D. : Pride of the West Lodge (Grand Lodge of the North Island of New Zealand). G.U.0.0.F. : Ellerslie United Branch and Pride of the Valley Branch. Isolated friendly societies : Blackball Colliery Accident Relief Fund Society. Working Men's Clubs : Cosmopolitan Club and The Waipukurau Cosmopolitan Club. The following changes of name were approved : Isolated friendly societies : Public Works Medical Association to The Pouatu District Medical Association, and Okaihau Railway Construction Workers' Medical Association to Okaihau Medical Association.

1 11. 1.