SIO Mr W. Fraser on the History and Constitution of 



used by Friendly Societies. If any other amount of benefit than those to 

 which it refers, should be desired, the single or monthly payments are to be 

 increased or diminished accordingly ; but the several sorts of benefits are al- 

 ways to bear the same proportion one to the other, which they bear in this 

 Table. 



(Signed) '* John Finlaison, Actuary of the National Debt. 



" Griffith Davies, Guardian Assurance Office.^ 



Such, then, is a brief detail of the principal rates of contributions which 

 have been proposed for allowances to the members of Friendly Societies, 

 during sickness, old age, and at death. Regarding the Tables in the Re- 

 port of the Highland Society, the Parliamentary Committee of 1827 have 

 given no opinion ; but it is to be presumed that they concur with the Com- 

 mittee of 1825, in considering that the rates of sickness and mortality adopt- 

 ed in the construction of those tables would be unsafe to calculate upon for 

 societies in England. The Committee, however, conceive, that either the 

 tables of Mr Becher, or that of Messrs Finlaison and Davies, may be safely 

 adopted by such societies, their remarks upon both being as follows : — 



" On the whole, then, your Committee are of opinion, that the Dorsetshire 

 tables, or Mr Becher*s new tables, having the annual graduation, may safely 

 be adopted ; provided, 1st, That a separate provision be made for the expences of 

 management, by fines, admission fees, voluntary contributions, or otherwise. 

 2dly, That the proportion of females do not greatly exceed one-third of the 

 whole number of members. 3dly, That the assurance for a superannuation 

 allowance be always connected with a life assurance requiring a monthly pay- 

 ment of half its amount. 4thly, That the present rate of interest allowed on 

 debentures be continued. 



" Your Committee are decidedly of opinion, that the societies should be 

 formed upon the largest scale possible. It is very difficult to fix a number of 

 members below which no society ought to exist ; but if they were required to 

 give an opinion upon this point, they would say that it would be imprudent 

 to establish a society with fewer than two hundred members. 



" It will be particularly desirable for the smaller societies, indeed it might 

 be expedient for all new societies, to make seventy the age of superannua- 

 tion ; up to that age, many men are very capable of maintaining themselves 

 by work. The payment necessary for such an allowance commencing at the 

 age of 70, is little more than two-thirds of that which is required, if the al- 

 lowance commences at 66. But, on the other hand, the sickness payment 

 must be somewhat increased, if it is to provide for sickness occurring be- 

 tween C5 and 70. And if the superannuation be made perfectly safe, there 

 will be no necessity to have recourse to a life assurance for supplying its de- 

 ficiency. It is assuredly much better, that the contribution for each con- 

 tingency should be sufficient in itself; and though your Committee agree 

 with that of 1825, in deeming it highly important, with the view of avoid- 

 ing pauperism, that a superannuation allowance should always be provided, 

 they do not think it absolutely necessary that a sum should be assured on 

 death. 



