PL—l

8

It would not be practicable to give here statements in detail of the various results, but the following comparison of sickness and mortality rates of the various bodies of data already named is extracted from page 22 of Mr. Watson's report :—

Comparison of Sickness and Mortality Rates: Various Bodies of Data (England).

The broad results of these comparisons, viewing them chronologically, are that sickness rates are constantly rising, whilst mortality races, except at the later ages, are declining. In respect of the two Manchester Unity experiences, the first conclusion to be drawn from a comparison of the rates is that the average sickness per member has increased, and that to a very considerable extent, while as regards the mortality there has been a decrease at all ages under 65. Eegarding the sickness experience Mr. Watson remarks : "A comparison of the sickness experience indicates a remarkable increase in the rate of claim. There is little difference in this respect between the experiences of the three earlier periods (in the Manchester Unity), but the experience of the years 1893-97 compares unfavourably with its predecessors at every period of life. Nor is the excess a comparatively small quantity. Up to forty-five years of age the average sickness had exceeded chat of the period 1866-70 by 21 per cent. Between the ages forty-five and sixty-five the excess is equal to 26 per cent., and at the ages sixty-five and over it is no less than 42 per cent." As regards the mortality experience Mr. Watson says: "A remarkable decline in the death rates is found at all the earlier periods of life, the average up to forty-five years of age being 66 per cent, of the death rates of 1866-70. In the middle period, say, ages forty-five to sixty-five, the average is 90 per cent, of .the corresponding rates of 1866-70, and from sixty-five years of age the average is 105 per cent, of that standard. It is thus evident that the aggregate " curve "of mortality is widely different from that appearing as the result of the last investigation." And, as Mr. Watson is careful to point out, this experience is unfavourable financially in two directions. Not only is the sickness per member at each period of life heavier than was formerly the case, but a greater proportion of members than formerly survive into old age, the period of life at which sickness is at its maximum intensity. At all previous tabulations of the experience of the Manchester Unity the data were divided into rural, town, and city districts, but in the present instance the system of classification adopted by Mr. Watson is much more varied, exhaustive, and complex. In the first place, the facts are distributed into three broad divisions —depending upon geographical situation, upon density of population, and upon occupation. The geographical areas distinguished were three : Area 1, non-manufacturing districts ; area 2, mainly textile districts ; area 3, other manufacturing, coal and metal working, and metropolitan districts. In each of these areas the membership was divided into rural and urban. Under each of the six divisions so formed eight subdivisions were made, depending upon occupation. The following are the subdivisions or classes into which the data were divided with reference to occupation :A, agriculture (applying to rural districts only); B, outdoor building trades; C, railway service; D, seafaring, fishing, &c. ; B, quarry-workers; P, iron and steel workers; G, miners (chiefly underground) ; H and J represents for each geographical area the general occupations, exclusive of those specially tabulated. There are thus forty-five separate groups of observations. The next step was to ascertain how far these groups of observations might be reduced in number preparatory to constructing the required tables of monetary values. By an exhaustive analysis and digest of the sickness and mortality under a variety of aspects Mr. Watson was able to reduce the grouping by occupations to four divisions—(l) the general body, including agriculture, A.H.J., comprising 78§ per cent, of the total years of life exposed to the risk of sickness; (2) building trades, railway service, and seafaring, 8.C.D., comprising 11 per cent, of the total exposures ; (3) quarrymen and iron-workers, 8.F., comprising 4-J- per cent, of the total exposures ; (4) mining occupations, G., comprising 6 per cent, of the total exposed to risk.

Ages. Rate oi Sickness pel Registered Friendly Societies, 1876-80. r Annum in Weeks. M.U., M.U., 1866-70. 1893-97. Rate of Mortality ; Registered A.O.F., Friendly 1871-75. Societies, 1876-80. per 100 per Annum. M.U., M.U., 1866-70. 1893-97. A.O.F., 1871-75. ' 16-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90-94 95-100 1-04 0-82 0-85 0-97 1-15 1-37 1-71 2-27 3-21 4-59 7-97 12-00 17-66 20-92 0-88 0-85 0-87 1-02 1-24 1-17 1-89 2-39 3-36 5-17 8-73 14-46 20-27 27-36 30-86 29-29 39-07 0-54 0-75 0-81 0-93 1-06 1-26 1-64 2-22 3-05 4-72 7-24 12-06 16-87 20-59 29-63 0-92 0-90 0-95 1-06 1-27 1-58 1-99 2-75 4-02 6-31 10-59 17-40 25-15 32-27 36-12 38-89 38-57 0-94 0-74 0-73 0-89 1-09 1-28 1-66 2-05 2-97 3-80 5-84 8-00 14-26 16-08 0-73 0-57 0-62 0-78 0-98 1-16 1-48 1-90 2-78 3-91 5-71 8-07 1215 16-01 22-62 21-57 26-67 0-46 0-64 0-76 0-82 0-98 1-26 1-43 1-91 2-49 3-54 5-21 7-81 9-95 11-88 19-61 025 0-37 0-46 0-55 0-70 0-95 1-17 1-69 2-42 3-56 5-41 8-09 12-04 17.66 23-26 28-47 44-00