persons accustomed to look at the matter from one point of view only would consider it to be. "Furthermore, anything like proper attempts to give effect to it, and also as I have pointed out above, to give effect to the logical counterpart, new entrances, would most certainly greatly complicate valuations, considerably increase their expense, and in the majority of cases have little or no bearing ultimately upon the financial position of the society. "Jas. C. Stevenson, Esq., M.P., (signed) "W. Sutton. One most important matter remains to be pointed out. The main object of the valuations required to be made is to show the members to what extent they may reasonably expect the benefits contracted for to be paid to them in the future. In the great majority of cases the valuations show deficiencies, in many cases so large as to leave no room for doubt that, apart from the comparative trustworthiness of the valuations, the societies must inevitably collapse sooner or later unless diligent means be taken to remedy the deficiency shown by the valuation. At present it can only be stated that the number of societies honestly taking effective measures to improve their financial position is very small indeed, and all that this office can do is to caution societies that the valuation deficiencies are accumulating at compound interest, and will in many cases soon become so large as to be practically irremediable. XII. THE RATES OF MORTALITY AND SICKNESS OF THE ANCIENT ORDER The Ancient Order of Foresters, following the example of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, resolved in 1878 to make a "complete and exhaustive analysis of the Quinquennial Returns of Sickness and Mortality Experience collected by the Order for the five years ending 31st December 1875," and the permanent secretary was "instructed to take steps for the preliminary tabulation of this experience, and to consult with Mr. Neison, actuary, as to the best mode of proceeding," Mr. Neison being retained to complete the analysis and deductions from this experience. Accordingly a preliminary report was issued in the latter half of the year 1881, and the report itself in the early part of 1882. The report contains some 216 pages, of which a large portion is tabular matter, bearing evidence of careful preparation, and reflects great credit upon the energy and enterprise of the Order. As might have been anticipated, the broad results, after making allowance for difference of treatment, do not differ materially from those obtained by the late Mr. Henry Ratcliffe. Following Mr. Ratcliffe's method of distribution, the courts held in localities having less than 5,000 inhabitants, are classified as rural, those in localities of 5,000 but less than 30,000 inhabitants, as town, and all others as city. It may be worth while to give the following comparison between the total results of the Ancient Order of Foresters' Experience, and the last compiled by the late Mr. Ratcliffe from the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows' Experience. The portion of the report which will be read with most interest is probably that which relates to the duration of sickness' claims, and the method of giving practical effect to the reduction of sick pay, which takes place after full sick pay has been received for defined periods of time. The form of schedule used being the same as the one then issued by this office, did not furnish the information necessary for the accurate determination of this important point, and besides calling upon the courts for further information, it will be seen from the report itself what assumptions and expedients were made use of to supply this deficiency. The following note extracted from p. 89, speaking of the form of schedule used, says: "This return was not framed by the Order itself, but was to all intents and purposes a copy of that issued by the Friendly Societies Registry. For the recent Quinquennial Return (1876-1880), the Order availed itself of the best scientific advice, and the schedule for the record of the sickness and mortality experience of the branches is of the most complete yet issued, and the results, when properly tabulated, should prove of incalculable value." It is only necessary to add that the new form of return here spoken of is taken from that issued by this office for the Quinquennial Returns for the period ending 31st December 1880. As bearing on this point the following passage from the report (dated 5th October 1881), on the valuation of the Shrewsbury District, A.O.F., by Mr. John Hinchcliffe, is not without interest : "It is proper to state that the district is taking the requisite steps to obtain reliable information from its own sickness' experience as to its real liabilities for reduced sick pay. The quinquennial returns of sickness and mortality for 1871-75 from courts in this district were tabulated by me, and published in your April 1880 District Report. The form of return then issued by the Registrar did not present the information respecting sickness during periods of time in sufficiently precise form. This we have sought to remedy by the adoption of a proposition at the April 1880 District Meeting, and which was sent to the previous meeting (two years ago) from one of the courts, and appeared in the report, in which it is expressly provided that each court shall annually make a return to the district of members who have been sick during the year, with the dates of their sickness, and its duration, and such other particulars as may be deemed requisite by the managing committee.' As this proposition was adopted 18 months ago (sic), the district may fairly claim to have anticipated one of the special features of the recent quinquennial returns, and to have resolved to do for itself what the Treasury, twelve months later, for the first time required from all Friendly Societies." XIII.-DISSOLUTIONS. By Instrument.-Division of the Funds left to the Award of the Chief Registrar. The cancellings of registry under the Friendly Societies Acts (1,647) were three more in number than the conversions. Two of the three were of Friendly Societies, and both by request, the societies being in fact trade unions. The third cancelling was that of the registry of a working men's club, and took place under the compulsory powers of the Act. The club in question was one at Swansea, termed the Brynmill Club and Institute. In a case before the stipendiary magistrate for Swansea, the steward was convicted for selling intoxicating liquors without a license, and it appeared at the trial that alterations had been made in its rules which were never registered. Application was subsequently made by the town clerk of Swansea to cancel the registry of the club, as existing for an illegal purpose. The Chief Registrar was of opinion, on the evidence by which the application was supported, that the club did in fact exist for the illegal purpose of selling intoxicating liquors without a license, and after due notice to the club, no rebutting evidence having been produced, its registry was cancelled with the approval of the Treasury. The The case is valuable as showing how sham working men's clubs which abuse the privileges granted to them by the Inland Revenue Department may now be deprived of their legal status. Before the passing of the Friendly Societies Act, 1875, there was no means of doing this. The suspensions of registry were 40 in number, all of Friendly Societies, and all for the same cause, viz., wilfully and after notice from a registrar violating the provision of the Friendly Societies Act in respect of the valuation of their assets and liabilities. The following is a list of the societies suspended : Benevolent Brothers Benefit Society, Stoke Pogis, Berkshire. C† Philanthropic Association, British Unity, Liskeard, Cornwall. ** * King William the First Friendly Society, Moreton Hampstead, Devon. Bovey Tracey Benefit Society, Bovey Tracey, Devon. Agricultural United Friendly Society, Christow, Devon. *† Gloucester City and County Life Assurance and Sick Benefit Society, Gloucester. * † Burley New Friendly Society, Burley, Hants. *† Poor Man's Friendly Burial Society, St. He en's, Lancashire. Dalton-in-Furness Loyal United Society of Mechanics, Dalton-in-Furness, C* † Warrington Catholic Philanthropic Society, Warrington, Lancashire. * C† Ancient Sons of Adam and the Old Original Ploughmen Friendly Society, Milnrow, Lancashire. * United Society or Club, Great Dalby, Leicestershire. Bitteswell Friendly Society, Bitteswell, Leicestershire. Bardney Friendly Institution, Bardney, Lincolnshire. Thurlby Provident Society, Thurlby, Lincolnshire. Metropolitan Jewish Confined Mourning, and Burial Society, Middlesex-street, Bethnal Green Philanthropic Pension Society, Bethnal Green-road, Middlesex. Shipdham Tradesmen's Friendly Society, Shipdham, Norfolk. C† Tradesmen's New Friendly Society, Hingham, Norfolk. Working Class Friendly Society, Desborough, Northamptonshire. C† Annesley Female Friendly Society, Annesley, Notts. C*† Loyal Duchess of Sutherland Lodge of the Loyal Independent Order of United Mildenhall Union Friendly Society, Mildenhall, Suffolk. Epsom Mutual Friendly Society, Epsom, Surrey. Birmingham Letter Carriers Provident Society, Birmingham, Warwickshire. *† Union Gift and Brotherly Society, Dudley, Worcestershire. Honourable Order of Engineers Sick and Benefit Friendly Society, Oldbury, Hope and Trust £. 15 Stourbridge Independent Order of Odd Fellows Friendly C*† Court Paradise Regained, Keighley, Yorkshire. * * Lockwood United Methodist Free Church and Sunday School Friendly Society, Gomer Lodge of True Ivorites Friendly Society, Beaufort Ironworks, Brecon. C* † Taliessin-ab-Iolo Lodge of True Ivorites Friendly Society, Ironworks, Brecon. Glanmor Friendly Society, Llanelly Flats, Carmarthenshire. C*† Prince of Wales Benefit Society, Aberavon, Glamorgan. The suspensions were all for a period of three months. Of the 40, the 19 marked with * had to be renewed for a further period of three months, and the 13 marked with † for a second like period, at the expiration of which the registry of nine of them (marked C.) was cancelled in the present year (1882). Of the remaining 31, one, the Bethnal Green Pension Society, was able to satisfy the Central Office that it was purely benevolent, and as such entitled to exemption from valuation; three of them were permitted to dissolve; the rest either sent in valuations, or professed sufficient readiness to do so to justify the Chief Registrar in not renewing the suspension, or were able to convince him that it was really impracticable for the society, under its existing circumstances, to make the valuation. In every case of suspension and cancelling notice was given to the Registrar General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, the Comptroller of the National Debt Office, the Comptroller of the Post Office Savings Bank, and the Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue. A society under suspension of registry would thus lose its right to certificates of death, &c., at a reduced price, its right to invest with the National Debt Commissioners and in the Post Office Savings Bank, and its exemption from Stamp Duties. On the whole, the Chief Registrar considers that the machinery of suspension and compulsory cancelling of registry, supplied by the Friendly Societies Act, 1875, has proved a valuable means of enforcing compliance with the law on the part of societies, and intends to make further use of it for this purpose. (2.) Directions for the Transfer of Stock. Five directions were given for the transfer of stock under Section 15 (6) of the Act of 1875, viz. : It is perhaps worth notice that for the past two years such directions have only applied to sums in the New Three per Cents., the slightly lower price of these, as compared with Consols, apparently making them a favourite security for friendly societies investing in the public funds. (3) Settlement of Disputes by the Chief Registrar. One dispute was decided by the Chief Registrar under the provisions of Section 22 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1875. New Rules and Existing Contracts.-The 21st rule of a Lodge of Oddfellows provided that the sick gift should be 10 s. per week for 16 weeks, and 7 s. per week for 16 weeks, then 5 s. per week during the remainder of the member's sickness. A member who became ultimately blind, received in succession the 10 s. per week, the 7 s., and the 5 s. Whilst he was in receipt of the 5 s. a meeting was called to consider an alteration of rules, at which he was present, not however voting or otherwise taking part in the proceedings. The alteration, a complete one, was duly registered, and by the new Rule, 20, the allowance of the third period was reduced to 3 s., instead of 5 s., for the remainder of a member's sickness. The society offered, and the blind member refused the 3 s. |