§ MR. E. STANHOPEasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If his attention has been called to the fact that the Reports of the Registrars of Friendly Societies are delivered many months after date, when the information contained in them is, in many respects, obsolete; and, if he will take steps to secure an earlier circulation of the Reports?
§ MR. HIBBERTThe Reports of the Registrars of Friendly Societies are generally delivered many months after the close of the year to which they relate; but this can hardly be said to make them obsolete. New arrangements have been made, which will enable them to be brought out somewhat earlier in future. The Returns on which these Reports are based are by Statute not due until June, and often come in much 863 later. These Returns have to be examined and abstracted before publication; and as the results are very voluminous, containing large masses of figures, it is therefore not possible to expedite publication beyond a certain point. A new arrangement, however, has been made, which it is hoped may facilitate.
MR. BROADHUCSTasked, whether the delay was not mainly owing to the great want of sufficient labour in this very useful Department?
§ MR. HIBBERTsaid, he believed the delay rested mainly with the Friendly Societies themselves.