.310 Mr W. Fraser wi the History and Constitution of' 



think proper, — and that the Justices in Petty Sessions shall 

 alone be competent to decide every question that may arise be- 

 tween societies and their members, without the power of any 

 appeal whatever. 



These extraordinary enactments have been thought neces- 

 sary, not only to secure contributions adequate to the promised 

 benefits, but also to put an end to the pernicious system of ma- 

 nagement which at present obtains among Friendly Societies 

 in England. The meetings there are commonly held in public 

 houses, the publicans are in general the treasurers, peculation 

 to a great extent is said to prevail, and the members are laid 

 under the necessity of spending a large sum annually at the 

 monthly and anniversary meetings. 



This is very different from the manner in which Friendly So- 

 cieties in Scotland are conducted. The most rigid economy, 

 and, in general, fidelity exist in their management; the ser- 

 vices of all the office-bearers, with the exception of the clerk, 

 have been hitherto entirely gratuitous ; and their meetings are 

 held in school-rooms, or other similar places, quite unconnected 

 with public-houses. It may be therefore safely said, that not 

 mismanagement, but miscalculation, has been the cause of fail- 

 ure with Friendly Societies in Scotland ; and it is gratifying to 

 be also able to state, that active measures are now every where 

 taking to rectify this important defect, and place societies upon 

 the most secure basis. Owing to these circumstances, it is be- 

 lieved, the proposed bill was not intended to apply to Scotland. 



So long, however, as the above pernicious mode of manage- 

 ment prevails among societies in England, it is naturally con- 

 cluded, that any rules or tables, however accurately framed at 

 first, will be ultimately rendered of no avail ; and it has there- 

 fore been conceived that an end should be put to this system by 

 the Legislature itself. But societies, on the other hand, con- 

 sider such interference as an infringement of the rights of in- 

 dividuals to manage their own affairs, and as totally subver- 

 sive of the independence of their institutions. The clauses re- 

 quiring the appointment of irresponsible and irremoveable trus- 

 tees, depriving the members of the right to appoint their own 

 treasurers, and annulling the power to settle disputes by arbi- 

 tration, granted by former statutes, have proved particularly ob- 



