H.—l

U.A.O.D. —Grand Lodge of Canterbury ; Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland. O.B.T.—The National Division of New Zealand. B.D.T.—The Antidote Division, No. 118. H.A.C.B.S.—New Zealand District (2); Northern (N.Z.) District. P.A.F.S.A.—Grand Council of New Zealand. G.U.O.O.F.—Grand United Order of Oddfellows, Friendly Society of New Zealand. I.F.S. —The Denniston Collieries Medical and Accident Relief Association; Kaitangata and District Miners' Benefit Society ; The Christchurch United Friendly Societies' Dispensary ; The Fountain of Friendship Lodge, Friendly Society ; The Hamilton United Friendly Societies' Dispensary; Paparoa Miners' Medical Club ; Wairarapa District Friendly Societies Hospital Association; The Inangahua Valley Medical Association; Buller Medical Association. W.M.C.—The Christchurch Working Men's Club and Mutual School of Arts; The Auckland Working-men's Club and Mechanics' Institute; The Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts. Annual Returns of Receipts and Expenditure, etc. The Friendly Societies Act requires these returns to reach me on or before the 31st March in each year. The number outstanding at that date in the respective societies was as follows :— Annual Returns outstanding at 31st March, 1939. Name of Society. Bodi™ 1 Branohes - M.U.1.0.0.F.— South Canterbury District .. .. .. .. ~ 1 1 Otago District .. .. .. .. .. .... 37 1.0.0. F. of New Zealand.. .. .. .. .. .. 25 A.O.F.— Auckland District .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 Taranaki District .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 Wellington District . . .. . i .. .... 4 Nelson District .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 Canterbury United District .. .. .. .. .... 1 South Canterbury District .. .. .. .. .... 1 United Otago District .. .. .. .. .... 1 Courts out of District .. .. .. .. .... 2 U.A.O.D.— Grand Lodge of North Island.. ' . . . . . . .... 1 Grand Lodge of Canterbury .. .. .. .. .... 2 Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland .. .. .... 1 1.0.R.— New Zealand Central District.. .. .. .. '...." 1 O.S.T. : National Division .. .. .. .. .... 1 H.A.C.B.S.— Northern (N.Z.) District .. .. .. .. .... 7 New Zealand District .. .. . . .. .... 2 P.A.F.S.A ... .. .. ..1 4 1.F.5., &c. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .... 26 2 120 V Y J 122 Statistics op Membership and Funds. The following table shows the membership of 966 lodges* of the Dominion for the year 1938 :— Number of members, Ist January .. ... .. .. 112,888 Number admitted by— ■ <■ ' Initiation, <fec. .. .. .. .. .. 6,536 Clearance .. . . . . ...'.,.. .. 1,529 o, ÜbO 120,953 Number who died .. .. .. .. 1,108 Number who left by— Clearance .. .. ~ .. .. .. 1,615 Arrears, &c: .. . . .. .. . . 4,521 '-■J -: ■'._•-••..•:. 7,244 Number of members, 31st December .. ... ' .. 113,709 The above figures show an increase in membership equal to 0-73 per cent., as compared with 4-47 per cent, for 1937.

* The word " lodge " when applied to all societies is to be understood as embracing the synonymous terms "court" "tent," &c, as used in tho various orders.

3