H.-6

X

The percentage of members sick and also the average number of weeks' sickness per member during the decade for the ages 20 to 50 compare favourably with the English experience, whereas the average number of weeks' sickness experienced per member sick is considerably higher among New Zealand societies. This last observation applies especially to the higher ages; and, although, as has been said, it is not safe to rely on deductions made from the limited data, it is most probable that, if there is in the colony a greater average longevity than in England, the sickness experience at the higher ages will show a very considerable comparative increase. The respective results are as follow:—

Percentage of Members sick during a Year. Average Number of Weeks' Sickness per Annum to each Member. Average Number of Weeks' Sickness per Annum to each Member actually sick. Ages of MemberB. New Zealand. _j._Jgl.l_lU, A.O.F., 1871-75. New Zealand. Decade, 1873-82. England A.O.F., 1871-75. New Zealand. England, A.O.F., 1871-75. Quinquennium, 1873-77. Quinquennium, 1878-82. Decade, 1873-82. Quinquennium, 1873-77. Quinquennium, 1878-82. Quinquennium, 1873-77. Quinquennium, 1878-82. Decade, 1873-82. Under 20 [19-1] [15-55] [18-00] 22-9 [0-87] [0-75] [0-83] 1-04 [4-55] [4-79] - [4-62] •• 20 to 23 .. 12-2 13-05 12-69 21-5 0-52 0-57 0-55 0-82 4-29 4-33 4-31 3-57 25 to 30 .. 12-0 11-53 11-72 21-6 0-57 0-63 0-60 0-85 4-74 5-45 5-16 3-96 30 to 35 .. 13-8 12-93 13-38 22-3 0-74 0-72 0-73 0-97 5-35 5-58 5-46 4-48 35 to 40 .. 14-7 14-83 14-77 23-4 0-98 1-03 1-01 1-15 6-68 6-97 6-84 5-15 40 to 45 .. 15-3 15-15 15-21 25-0 1-20 1-15 1-17 1-37 7-82 7-61 7-69 6-86 45 to 50 .. 14-1 15-86 15-40 26-9 0-86 1-52 1-33 1-71 6-13 9-61 . 8-80 6-83 50 to 55 .. [21-4] [20-17] [20-36] 29-6 [2-68] [1-72] [1-87] 2-26 [12-50] [8-55] [9-19] 8-42 55 to 60 .. [28-8] [24-62] [25-34] 34-0 [2-76] [4-34] [4-07] 3-21 [9-58] [17-61] [16-04] 10-86 60 to 65 .. [38-4] [33-53] [35-29] 43-3 [9-32] [5-00] [6-57] 4-59 ■ [24-28] [14-90] [18-61] 13-50 65 to 70 .. [74-1] [40-51] [49-06] 52-3 [26-35] [6-48] [11-55] 7-97 [35-57] [16-01] [23-54] 18-39 70 and upwards .. [94-1] [49-06] [60-00] 60-1 [39-23] [20-60] [25-12] 13-48 [41-68] [41-99] [41-87] 24-85 Ages unspecified .. [6-1] [17-86] [14-29] [0-28] [2-10] [1-55] 0-95 [4-62] 6-20 [11-76] 7-10 [10-83] ■• All ages i 1-36 6-72 5-79 14-1 14-28 . 14-19 23-45 0-87 1-01