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Amendments of Rules The rules of fifty-six societies and branches were amended during 1948, six by complete amendment, and fifty by partial amendment. Statistics of Membership and Funds The following table shows the membership of 874 lodges* of the Dominion for the year 1948: Number of members, Ist January . . . . .. 78,506 Number admitted by— Initiation, &c. . . . . .. . . 2,393 Clearance .. .. .. .. 566 2,959 81,465 Number who died . . . . . . . . 1,192 Number who left by— Clearance .. . . . . . 558 • Arrears, &c. .. ... .. .. 2,581 4,331 Number of members, 31st December .. .. 77,134 The above figures show a decrease in membership equal to 1-75 per cent., as compared with 2-41 per cent, for 1947. The total funds of the societies and branches as at 31st December, 1948, amounted to £6,568,039, made up as follows: Sick and Funeral Funds (inclusive of amounts transferred to special funds out of surplus), £6,018,076; Medical and Management Funds, goods, &c., £549,963. 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 £B5 3s.

The following statement shows the disposal of the total funds (including those of the central bodies) as at the 31st December, 1948.

Sickness The number of members sick during 1948 was 15,410, equal to 20-4 per 100 members at risk. The sickness experienced during 1948 was 324,077 weeks, •equal to 21 weeks per sick member and 4 weeks 2 days for each member at risk. * 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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Funds. Assets. Sick and Funeral Funds .. Surplus Appropriation Funds, &c. Management Funds, goods, &c. Distress, Benevolent Funds, &c. £ . 5,324,018 694,058 314,317 235,646 Investments at interest .. • Value of land and buildings Cash not bearing interest .. Value of Goods Other assets Owing by Management Funds £ .. 6,039,249 297,400 178,789 18,762 29,910 3,929 £6,568,039 Total .. £6,568,039