306 Mr W. Fraser on the History and Constitutkm of 



ties in old age as high as if the pre'miums had been computed by the Carlisle 

 tables, or those constructed upon the experience of the Equitable Society of 

 London, at the rate of 4| per cent, interest. It may here be remarked, how- 

 ever, that the single payments required from entrants to the sickness fund, 

 seem to have been calculated upon some principle very different from that 

 adopted by the Highland Society. By their table, p. 305 of this Journal, 

 these payments progressively increase with the advance of age, whereas by 

 Mr Becher's table they periodically decrease. Thus, according to him, the 

 single payment from an entrant at 21 years of age is £ 1 : 17 : 3, and at 24 

 only £1:16:1; at 30, £ 2 : 8 : 5, and at 39 only £2:1:5; at 40, £ 2 : C : 9, 

 and at 49 only £ 1 : 15 : 7, or Is. 8d. below the sum payable at the age of 21. 

 From Mr Becher's abilities as a calculator, there can be little doubt of the total 

 results of his tables being found correct by such societies as combine all their 

 schemes ; but it is obvious that this scale of single payments for benefit during 

 sickness could never be acted upon by societies who should keep all their pay- 

 ments and benefits separate— a system which it is most desirable to introduce. 



TABLE shewing the Single and the Monthly Contributions for assuring Two 

 Shillings per Week during Sickness Bed-lying Pay^ and One Shilling per Week 

 Walking Pay : a Weekly Allowartce of One Shilling after the Age of 65, and 

 Two Pounds on Death. 



