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NEW SOUTH WALES SUBVENTION ACT. I append hereto a summary of the transactions of this scheme taken from the Registrar's report for last year : —

In commenting on these figures the Registrar states : " The claims of the whole period amounted to over £38,000. The amount paid in 1909 was comparatively small, as the majority of applicant societies did not register under the Act until the middle of the year. During 1910 there were ten more applicant societies, and the claims practically covered the whole of the year, consequently there was a large increase in the amount paid. In 1911 there was a still further increase, and it is probable that the claims for 1912 will reach £20,000." The question of membership and secessions is one that has an intimate relation to subvention, and it is reasonable to look in the societies' returns for any indication that will indicate the effect of subventions in promoting national thrift. The New South Wales Registrar's report contains the following tables dealing with these matters — 1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. Increase in membership .. 10,307 6,312 9,832 16,313 15,407 Increase, per cent. .. .. 9-7 5-4 8-0 12-3 10-3 Initiations, per cent. .. .. 19-8 15-7 18-7 22-0 20-8 Secessions, per cent. .. .. 8-9 9'0 9-7 8-9 9-5 The figures show that the membership has considerably increased, since 1909 (the date when subvention commenced), though probably other causes have helped to bring this about. Apart from this, the financial position of the societies has been greatly improved, as disclosed in their recent valuations. OPERATIONS OF NEW ZEALAND SOCIETIES. Registrations. There were registered during the past year 22 new societies and branches, distributed among the various orders as follows : M.U.I.O.O.F., 8 lodges ; I.O.O.F., 5 lodges ; A.O.F., 4 courts ; I.O.R.. 2 tents ; isolated friendly societies, 3. The following registrations were cancelled : — By dissolution : U.A.O.D. —Eastbourne Lodge (Grand Lodge of North Island) ; Sydenham and Addington Working-men's Club and Mutual School of Arts. By request: M.U.I.O.O.F.—Cheviot Lodge (Ashley district) ; A.O.F.—Court Ruapehu (Wellington District). The following amalgamation was registered : A.O.F. —Court Tamaki with Court Makakahi (Wellington District). The following change of name was registered : A.O.F. —Court Chisman to Court Maid Marion (Auckland District). All Nations Lodge, U.A.O.D., was converted to a branch of the Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, U.A.O.D. The position of the orders in respect of registration is shown by the following summary as at the beginning and the end of 1912 : —

Con! Sic tinuous ikness. Sickness: Aged Members. Contribu itions: Aged Members and "Widows. Year. V 'S o ■g 9 £ A I t I i 00 I I 6 O "§ g 4 £ i S | 5 o * s § § i§ a 6 •* Medical A ai Med: attendance [ nd Funeral. Total Amount icine. of Claims, I 1 g-gl a 03 a 8 is a 42 .909 .910 .911 No. i No. 18 i 285 28 i 457 30 ! 576 £ 925 2,442 2,839 No. £ 701 2,763 1,188 7,072 1,417 8,430 No. 2,432 3,608 3,194 1,348 8,402 4,038 No. k 822 ; 1,871 3,400 2,058 £ 5,858 14,787 17,360

Name of Order. Manohester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows Independent Order of Odd Fellows National Independent Order of Odd Fellows British United Order of Odd Fellows Anoient Order of Foresters Anoient Order of Shepherds United Anoient Order of Druids Independent Order of Reohabites Sons and Daughters of Temperance Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society Protestant Allianoe Friendly Society of Australasia Railway Employees' Benefit Society Isolated friendly societies Working-men's clubs Independent Order of Good Templars Specially authorized societies Totals i Registrations at 1st January, Established. 1912. 216 8 80 5 3 1 146 4 2 140 66 2 11 51 .. i 12 .. 1 21 3 ..| 17 55 18 840 22 8 5 *4 2 Closed. 1 *2 1 1 5 1 *2 1 Registra ions at 31st December, 1912. 223 85 3 1 148 2 139 68 11 51 12 1 24 16 55 18 857 223 85 3 1 148 2 139 68 11 51 12 1 24 16 55 18 3 1 22 857