1-15.

I'r. E. HAVES.

this reform. In New Zealand we had men who in the early days tackled the question and assisted in applying these reforms to our societies. I suppose there are very few friendly-society managers nowadays who fail to recognise the necessity for these actuarial reserve balances and for adequate contributions. As I have mentioned, in England bitter experience taught the lesson, and as it takes many years for the crisis in a lodge's affairs to be reached —fifty years at least—we have not in New Zealand come to anything like that stage except in some of the very old lodges. It will be instructive to those who have not yet realised the necessity for reserves if I give a few instances of New Zealand lodges which illustrate the point. The first I quote is the Wanganui Lodge of the M.U.1.0.0.F., established in 1858. Here the outgo for sick and funeral benefits during the last twenty years amounted to £6,365, whereas the income from contributions was £4,252; and in this case it is interesting to observe that the membership has nearly doubled.

The next table refers to Court Star of Canterbury of the A.0.F., established 1852. During the last twenty years the membership has kept steady, and during that time the outgo has been £15,411, and the contribution income £13,011.

28

Year. Number of Members. Contributions and Entrance Pees. Sick Benefits. Funeral Benefits. Total Benefits. 148 152 149 139 143 146 152 165 175 180 172 171 175 187 197 208 215 220 227 255 267 £ 131 139 134 136 132 144 149 172 176 197 196 200 197 207 232 233 247 266 294 321 349 £ 93 171 156 169 203 244 249 266 243 267 317 279 214 289 333 385 347 374 411 386 457 £ 10 £ 103 171 156 219 218 265 249 306 281 327 362 279 229 289 361 400 387 409 471 396 487 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 50 15 21 40 38 60 45 15 28 15 40 35 60 10 30 4,252 6,365

Year. Number of Members. Contributions and Entrance Fees. Sick Benefits. Funeral Benefits. Total Benefits. 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 423 425 420 424 410 430 425 414 407 406 405 406 406 411 407 414 406 417 422 ' 429 416 £ 574 576 570 669 646 666 669 662 646 621 627 611 627 612 623 613 602 613 600 604 580 £ 483 419 461 384 543 534 419 596 621 482 517 656 667 631 787 720 615 624 656 505 724 £ 100 160 70 60 250 80 80 80 160 102 80 190 160 150 280 130 110 250 360 275 240 £ 583 579 531 444 793 614 499 676 781 584 597 846 827 781 1,067 850 725 874 1,016 780 964 13,011 15,411