]'illage Chihs and Associations. 



Rural Benefit Soriet/rs: Membership and Financial Position. 

 Oxfodshire, 1909. 



The number of village clubs prior to the passing of the 

 Insurance Act is unknown, but there were still numerous 

 registered societies restricted as to membership to one village 

 or to a small rural district before 1910, and probably ihe number 

 of unregistered societies was very much greater. Their objects 

 were similar to those of the better known affiliated orders 

 of friendly societies. Under the National Health Insurance 

 Act, 1910, many of them have been closed, and the work they 

 have done is now carried on by one or other of the great 

 organisations anxious to enlist the healthy country worker. 

 The effect is to deprive the rural labourer of a certain extra 

 benefit which should accrue to him, under the Act, from the 

 general healthiness of his life and surroundings, whilst adding 

 proportionately to the advantages enjoyed by his fellow mem- 

 bers in the towns. (See figures given on p. 6 for expected 

 and actual sickness in country clubs.) This is not the place to 

 discuss the Insurance Act and its effects on village clubs, but 

 it may be noted that in some parts steps were taken to preserve 

 the village societies, and to secure to their members the 

 maximum benefits of the Act, by the formation of county 

 societies which were to link them up for the purposes of 

 valuation under the Act. Thus, in Lincolnshire, the Rural 

 Workers' Insurance Society was registered, and every effort 

 was made to secure the continuance of the village clubs of the 

 county by affiliating them with it. 



