H.—l

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, 1933, arranged in order of membership : —

Sickness. The number of members sick during 1934 was 23,295, equal to 24-7 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1934 was 260,264 weeks, equal to 11 weeks 1 day per sick member, and 2 weeks 5 days for each member at risk. Mortality. A statement of the average mortality experienced during the years 1930-34 is given below, but it takes no account of age incidence : —

Sick and Funeral Funds. The contributions and entrance fees paid to Sick and Funeral Funds in 1934 amounted to £181,945. Divided by the mean number of members the average for 1934 was £1 16s. 3d., as against £1 15s. 7d. for 1933. The interest and rent received by the lodges and central bodies amounted to £166,797 in 1934, equal to £1 13s. 2d. per member as against £1 lis. lOd. for 1933. The amount of sickness benefit paid was £163,397 in 1934, equal to £7 Os. 3d. per member sick, and £1 12s. 6d. per member as against £7 10s. lid. and £1 10s. 3d. respectively for 1933. Viewing the amount paid in relation to the weeks of sickness the average benefit per week is found to be 12s. 7d, in 1934, the same as for 1933. The funeral benefit paid amounted to £42,301 in 1934, equal to Bs. sd. per member, as compared with 7s. 9d. for 1933. The total worth of the Sick and Funeral Funds at the beginning of 1934 was £3,789,534, and at the end of the year £3,883,557. The balance of gain for the year was £94,023, or 18s. 9d. per member, in 1934, as compared with £69,528, or 13s. 9d., in 1933.

Investment of Funds. The net income from investments credited to the Sick and Funeral Funds for 1934 amounted to £166,797, the average rate being £4 Bs. lid. per cent., as against £4 7s. 6d. in 1933.

Table showing the Total Worth of Sick and Funeral Funds as at the 1st January, 1934, and 31st December, 1934, inclusive of Accumulations held by Central Bodies, also Amount and Average Rate of Interest earned.

Teade-unions. • Thêrê wêrē twenty-five unions on the register at the end of the year.

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~ ~! " I """" ■ ! „ . . i Number S umber Amount Capital State or Dominion. Date of Beturn. of of of per Dodges. Members. Funds. Member. £ £ s. d. New South Wales .. .. .. 30th June, 1933 .. 2,452 ! 211,567 4,304,722 20 6 11 Victoria .. .. .. .. „ „ .. 1,443 158,516 5,486,050 34 12 2 New Zealand .. .. .. 31st Dee., „ .. 918 100,237 4,538,095 45 5 6 South Australia .. .. .. 30th June, „ .. 823 i 71,275 2,518,002 35 6 7 Queensland .. .. .. 30th June, 1932 .. 613 ; 66,166 1,746,397 26 7 11 Tasmania.. .. .. .. 31st Dee., „ .. 191 25,352 436,218 17 4 2 Western Australia .. „ 30th June, 1933 .. 347 22,233 | 508,420 22 17 4

Members. Wives. Year. I ' ~ i ~ Number who died. | m°k° i Nuinber who aled - MeSbeS Risk! .. [ | I 1930.. .. .. .. .. 821 7-70 334 3-13 1931.. .. .. .. .. 874 8-18 372 3-48 1932.. .. .. .. ., 834 8-00 393 3-77 1933.. .. .. .. .. 852 8-39 363 3-57 1934 .. .. .. .. ... 935 9-26 326 3-23

Total Worth of Sick and Funeral Funds as at xtatyio r»f otv Amount Average Rate Name of Society. . of Interest. per Cent. January 1,1934. December 31,1934. - ; £ £ £ £ M.U.I.O.O.F. .. .. .. .. 1,314,197 1,356,594 58,290 4-46 I.O.O.F. .. .. .. .. .. 356,319 349,679 15,305 4-43 tf.I.O.O.F. .. .. .. .. 5,401 5,287 157 2-98 B.U.O.O.F. .. .. .. .. 6,591 6,318 316 5 02 A.O.F. .. .. .. .. .. 718,051 724,775 30,867 4-37 A.O.S. .. .. .. .. .. 1,246 U.A.O.D. .. .. .. .. 956,443 996,475 42,409 4-44 Ī.O.R. .. .. .. .. .. 184,352 190,918 8,245 4-49 O.S.T. .. .. .. .. .. 29,307 29,847 1,474 5-11 S.D.i. .. .. .. .. .. 12,567 i 11,918 540 4-51 H.A.CJ.S. .. .. .. .. 99,595 103,429 4,159 4-18 f\A.F.S.A. .. .. .. .. 50,174 51,341 2,181 4-39 G.tT.O.O.F. .. .. .. .. 3,462 3,792 150 4-22 Other societies .. .. .. .. 51,829 53,184 2,704 j 5-29 totals ■■ * ■■ 3,789,534 3,883,557 166,797 I 4-44