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1936. NEW ZEALAND.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND TRADE-UNIONS. FIFTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE REGISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1935.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, Section 9, and the Trade-unions Act, 1908, Section 16.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies to the Hon, the Minister. k IB ' Wellington, Ist July, 1936. I have the honour to submit the annual report of this Office for the year ended 31st December, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, section 9, and the Tradeunions Act, 1908, section 16. I have, &c., C. Gostelow, F.1.A., Registrar of Friendly Societies.

REPORT.

It is with regret that I have to record that Mr. Robert Witheford, who had held the position of Registrar of Friendly Societies since the 26th October, 1926, was accidentally killed on the 14th January last. Mr. Witheford saw service in both the Boer War and the Great War, and in his capacity of Registrar spared no efiort to assist and encourage friendly societies, particularly during the difficult years of the depression. General. The membership of friendly societies increased duriDg the year from 100,708 to 103,612, representing a gain of 2,904, equal to 2-88 per cent. Total accumulated funds of societies increased from £4,676,427 to £4,812,787, the average capital per member being now £46 9s. as compared with £46 Bs. 9d. at the end of 1934. Net interest credited to the Sick and Funeral Funds during the year totalled £170,117, equal to a rate of £4 Bs. 3d. per cent., as compared with £4 Bs. lid. per cent, during the previous year. The average contributions and interest per member credited to the Sick and Funeral Funds increased irom £3 9s. sd. to £3 9s. lid. while the cost of sickness and funeral benefits decreased from £2 os. lid. to £1 19s. sd. The total net gain in these particular funds for the vear amounted to £1 is. 6d. per member. The number of members who died was 887, equal to 8-64 per thousand members at risk, as compared with 935 and 9-26 respectively during 1934. Legislation. Section 55 of the Finance Act, 1931 (No. 4), which modified the provisions of subsection (4) of section 50 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1909, was further amended by section 30 of the Finance Act 1935 (No. 2), as follows : — " 30. (1) Section fifty-five of the Finance Act, 1931 (No. 4), as amended by section thirty of the Finance Act, 1932 (No. 2), is hereby further amended by omitting the words ' five years', and substituting the words ' seven years ' ; and by omitting the words ' nineteen hundred and thirty-four' and substituting the words ' nineteen hundred and thirty-six '. " (2) Section thirty of the Finance Act, 1932 (No. 2), is hereby consequentially repealed."

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