H.—s.

* First Six Months. + Second Six Months. } After Twelve Months. 1882 ... ' ... ... 66-44 8-89 24-67 1883 ... ... ... 64-53 6-33 29-14 —showing an increase in the proportion of chronic sickness. The number of lodges which had sickness experience extending beyond the first six months of continuous sickness was 32-10 percent, in 1883, as against 29-41 per cent, in 1882 ; and the number which had sickness experience extending beyond twelve months was 23-87 per cent., as against 21-32 per cent, in 1882. Table 111. shows the number of members classified according to age and conjugal condition. The proportion of married and unmarried was very nearly as 9 to 5, the married members comprising 64-33 of the total number. From the columns relating to age it will be seen that 823 or 4-37 per cent, of the members were under 20 years of age, 6,948 or 36-87 per cent, were between 20 and 30, 6,248 or 33-16 per cent, between 30 and 40, 3,733 or 19-81 per cent, between 40 and 50, 761 or 4-04 per cent, between 50 and 60, 124 or -66 per cent, between 60 and 70, and 17 or -09 per cent, over 70, while the ages of 189 or 1-00 per cent, of the members could not be ascertained. These percentages vary very slightly from those of the previous year. Table IV. deals with the Benefit Funds of the various societies, giving the particulars of the annual receipts and expenditure, together with the amount of the fund in each lodge at the beginning and end of the year. The contributions to this fund amounted to £24,506 13s. 4d., being an average of £1 7s. per member. This average is nearly the same as that of the four previous years. The receipts from entrance and clearance fees were £1,649 14s. 10d., or 10s. Id. per member admitted. The average for the year 1882 was 10s. sd. The total amount paid as sick benefits during the year was £13,175 15s. Id., or 14s. 6d. per member, and £5 4s. Id. per member»sick, as compared with 14s. 9d. and £5 6s. 2d. in the year 1882; and the average weekly pay was 165., showing a slight decrease as compared with that of the previous year. The funeral benefits amounted to £2,962 9s. 9d. The amount of levies to the District Funeral Funds was £3,977 3s. Id., or an average of 4s. 7d. per member in those societies which have a District Funeral Fund. In 1882 the average was 4s. 6d. The total receipts, of the Sick and Funeral Funds were £41,246 12s. 2d., or £2 ss. sd. per member, as against £2 9s. lOd. in the previous year. The total payments were £23,396 18s. lid., or £1 ss. 9d. per member; the expenditure, therefore, was 57 per cent, of the receipts as compared with slightly over 50 per cent, in 1882. Table V. exhibits the transactions of the Medical and Management Expenses Fund. The total amount of expenditure from this fund for all the lodges was £31,116 9s. 5d., distributed as follows : — £ s. d. Medical attendance and medicine ... ... ... 17,205 5 11 Expenses of management (inclusive of levies to central bodies) 9,755 11 0 Other payments ... ... ... ... 4,155 12 6 Total ... ... ... ... £31,116 9 5 This gives an average of 18s. lid. per member for medical attendance, &c, and 10s. 9d. for expenses of management, an increase of lid. and a saving of 7d. respectively upon the previous year's averages. Table VI. shows the distribution of the societies' funds as on the 31st December, 1883. Of the total amount, £130,233 was placed at interest, and the value of land and buildings was set down at £80,422. Cash in hand amounted to £15,261, and £6,405 was the estimated value of goods, regalia, debts, &c. The following is a statement of funds and assets as at the end of the year:— Funds. £ Assets. £ Sick and Funeral Funds ... ... 205,356 Investments at interest ... ... 130,233 Medical and Management Expenses Value of land and buildings ... 80,422 Funds ... ... ... 20,420 Cash not bearing interest ... ... 15,261 Other funds and property ... ... 6,545 Value of goods, regalia, &c. ... 5,688 Other assets ... ... ... 717 Total ... ... £232,321 Total ... ... £232,321 Table VII. shows how the funds at interest were placed, with the rates per cent, earned by the various investments. £8,363 was in the Post Office Savings Bank, and £29,225 in other banks. The average interest on the latter was 5J per cent.. £1,202 was on deposit with companies, &c, at an average of 6 t 9q per cent.; £77,967 was on mortgage of freehold property, yielding on an average 8 per cent. ; £7,712 was invested in Government and Municipal debentures, at an average of 6f per cent.; £4,482 in shares in companies, &c, yielding about 7-j^per cent.; and £1,282 on securities other than those above mentioned, at an average of 6J per cent. The average rate on the total funds at interest was 6 T % per cent.

* 1.e., sickness which had not yet lasted more than six months since the commencement of the attack. t Sickness which had already lasted more than six months, but not more than twelve months. For such sickness societies usually make a weekly allowance at a reduced rate. J Sickness which had already been protracted beyond twelve months. When illness is protracted beyond this point, the weekly allowance is usually still further reduced.

V