14 Villdqe Cluhs and Associations. 



This system of allowing one branch preponderating power 

 has been a well-known feature of organisation amongst friendly 

 societies, where it is known as government by "ruling branch." 

 In the early part of their history some of the great orders were 

 organised on this principle and some small societies with 

 branche,s have continued it to the present day. But not many 

 pig clubs have branches. 



When a person, having paid an entrance fee, becomes a 

 member of a society, he can at once insure pigs, by paying an 

 entrance fee for each animal. Sometimes a society has a flat 

 rate for all animals, but generally there is one rate for " stores," 

 and another for breeders. The Kineton Society has an elaborate 

 graduated scale. The usual premium for a store pig is about 

 sixpence, for a sow 2s. ("xi. for the breeding period, for a boar 

 2s. ()d. per annum. The premium for stores covers their whole 

 life period, but few clubs insure animals till they reach the age 

 of two months. Before being admitted, each animal must be 

 inspected and approved either by members of the committee, 

 or by an official " marker," according to the provision of the 

 rules. The members of committee, or the marker, as the case 

 may be, also assesses all claims for compensation. Animals are 

 usually insured for full value, but the society reserves the right 

 to make use of the carcass, or to deduct the value of the carcass 

 from the sum paid to the owner. Some of the larger societies, 

 however, have adopted the principle of only insuring part of 

 the value of each animal. This is necessary where the members 

 are poorly acquainted with each other, and close supervision of 

 their animals is impossible. At Spalding, the Hand-in-Hand 

 Pig Club only pays 3s. M.. in the £ on the value of a pig dying 

 within eight weeks insurance ; between eight and twelve weeks 

 lOs. in the £ ; and after three months 15s. in the £ is paid. 



Some societies have been organised on the periodical 

 dividend system, but many others, whose rules do not provide 

 for dividends, have paid out bonuses to members^ when their 

 funds increased beyond what they regarded as the necessary 

 limit. In a few cases such dividends have been disastrous. 

 Many clubs hold an annual dinner, open to all members, and 

 usually paid for out of the ordinary funds. This may account 

 for the fact that so few pig clubs are registered, because it would 

 then be an illegal practice, and as Sir George Young said in 

 another connection, " the feeling is tremendously strong in the 

 mind of the agricultural labourer that a club from which (so 

 long as good luck attends him) he gets absolutely nothing, no 

 beer, no feast, no fire, is too hard for human nature to bear." 

 But though the dinner has often been abused, it has a distinct 



^ By special resolution. 



