H.-7.

14

1,417, or 1425 per cent., were 40 and under 45 years of age") o■.-, Q o]qfl , 701, or 7-05 „ 45 „ 50 „ j Z ' llfi > or Zl dU P er cent 251, or 2-52 „ 50 „ 55 „ 5 „ „ „.„ 78, or 078 „ 55 „ 60 „ \ 329 ' or 330 » 27, or 0-27 „ 60 „ 65 „ \ , 8, or 008 „ 65 „ 70 „ j 65 ' or ° So 4, or 004 „ 70 years of age and upwards. It would be hazardous to predict, even in general terms, what changes a decade may make in this distribution of ages, but some idea of the development which .the percentages undergo as the lodges themselves increase in age may be obtained by comparing the above with (1) the distribution of ages in the oldest lodges, say in those established upwards of 20 years; and (2) with the corresponding distribution in the youngest lodges, say in those established less than 2 full years. Out of 117 lodges, courts, &c, included in Table XVI., 13 had been established upwards of 20 years, all of them being lodges of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, and their aggregate membership on 31st December, 1880, was 2,325. One member's age was unspecified. Of the remaining 2,324 — 70, or 3'ol per cent., were under 20 years of age. 408, or 1756 „ 20 and under 25 years of age 7 o - n ot7 00 , 471, or 20-27 " 25 „ 30* „ S j 879, or 37-83 per cent. 409, or 17-60 „ 30 „ 35 „ ) 77q „„.,„ 370, or 15 92 „ 35 „ 40 „ j 77J ' Ol 66 ?S ,Orl J:J? " S " X " 430, or 18-50 „ 156, or 6-71 ~ 45 „ 50 „ ) 41, or 176 „ 55 „ 60 „ ) ' 19, or 082 „ 60 „ 65 „ \ , 5, or 0-21 „ 65 „ 70 „ JM>or i Ud 2, or o'o9 „ 70 years of age and upwards. There is thus a much larger proportion of members over 50 (714 per cent.) than in all the lodges taken together (369 per cent.) There were 14 lodges, courts, &c, which had been established less than 2 full years. Their aggregate membership on 31st December, 1880, was 1,020. Excluding 4 members, whose ages were unspecified, and excluding also a railway society (127 members), which of necessity to a certain extent took oyer existing liabilities, it is found that, out of the remaining 889 members, — 54 members, or 607 per cent., were under 20 years of age. 192 „ 21-60 „ 20 and under 25 years of age"),, _ .„ co , 223 " 25-08 ,; 25 „ 30 * „ B j 415, or 46-68 per cent. 206 „ 2317 „ 30 „ 35 „ \'. 151 „ 16-99 „ 35 „ 40 „ ] 'or*u ib " 47 „ 529 „ 40 „ 45 „ 1 - 10 „ 1-12 „ 45 „ 50 „ j o ' 01 b4i " 6 „ o'6B „ 50 „ 55 „ As might have been expected, there is here a much larger proportion of members at the younger ages than in either of the other tables, while hardly any members are over 45 years of age, and none over 55. This arises from the fact that 40 or 45 is usually the superior limit fixed by the rules of affiliated friendly societies for the initiation of new members. A large body of facts respecting the ages of members and the connection between age and sickness, mortality and secession, based on the quinquennial returns for 1873-77, is now being compiled under the supervision of the Actuary, and it is hoped that they will be ready for presentation to Parliament in the course of a few weeks. V TRADE UNIONS. The Eegistrar is required, in his capacity as Registrar of Trade Unions, to present an annual report to Parliament of his proceedings under " The Trade Union Act, 1878." He is compelled again to report, however, that no applications for registry have been received during the period under consideration, and it seems evident that no desire exists among trade unions to avail themselves of the provisions of the Act. Wμ. E. B. Beown, Eegistrar of Friendly Societies.