Village Clubs and Associations. 15 



function in associated life, and it is a pity that arrangements 

 cannot be made whereby a club covild obtain the benefits both 

 of the annual dinner and of registration. But the fact that 

 the percentage of oflhcials of unregistered societies who are 

 dishonest is very small, and that disputes over assessment of 

 compensation in these clubs practically never occur, shows the 

 strong ground for mutual confidence which exists in English 

 villages. 



The financial circumstances of these clubs vary a great deal, 

 but the Kineton Society is somewhat typical of the best of them, 

 and a statement of averages for ten years may be given. 



Average of Ten Years^ Kineton Pig Club. 



No of jiigs insured, 205" 1. 



Expenditure. 



£ s. d. 



Management . . 2 10 6 



Amount paid on claims . 9 6 .5 



£11 16 11 



Average annual death rate, 5. Average rate per 100, 2'5. 



Formed in 1890, the Club had accumulated 107^. by 1908, 

 when bonuses amounting to 59^. were paid to members in sums 

 varying according to the term of membership. At the present 

 time the funds are again steadily accumulating. 



The number of pigs insured per member varies from one to 

 half a dozen, and the average numl)er per member varies 

 considerably amongst the numerous clubs. But the average for 

 the whole is less than two per member. The club formed at 

 Calne in 1906 has an average of eleven pigs insured per 

 miember. The death rate ranges between 2 and 5, with an 

 average of between 3 and 4 per cent. Proposals have been 

 made that these clubs should amalgamate for the re-insurance 

 of their risks, or form county or district affiliations, and if such 

 a movement could be inaugurated it would undoubtedly be of 

 economic and educational value to the villagers. But at 

 present little can be done, for even the idea of registration is 

 not welcomed by the officers of many clul)S. The distribution 

 of the model rules compiled by the Board of Agriculture, and 

 other educational influences, may help to put these societies on 

 a more permanent basis, but spontaneous associations of this 

 character need to be delicately and sympathetically approached 

 if they are to be led to a greatei- spliere of usefulness. 



