Village Cluhs and Associations. 17 



the death rate is higher than among cows. The costs of 

 management amount to about &d. per cow, and altogether it has 

 been proved that the cow clubs can insure stock at a cost of 

 some 3 or 4 per cent, per annum of the total value of animals, 

 while the insurance companies demand a premium of some 7^ 

 per cent. While doing this many of the clubs have been able 

 to build up considerable reserves. In 1912 eighty-six societies 

 had funds amounting to over 10,000Z., while some societies have 

 accumulated sums much larger than the average for this group. 

 The Whixall Club had 1,500Z. in 1908, when it decided to 

 reduce its reserve by making a dividend of 500?. among its 

 members. Fortunately the practice of making dividends is 

 not so common among cow clubs as among the pig insurance 

 societies. A scheme has recently been laid down by which 

 cow clubs may reinsure part of their risks with a co-operative 

 insurance company, but an increase in the number of clubs 

 registered seems to be a necessary preliminary to any scheme 

 of development. As in the case of the pig clubs, it seems a 

 pity that so few societies take the advantages accruing to the 

 process of registration, and that some attempt is not made on 

 the part of the officials of the clubs to strengthen their position 

 by federation, and to extend the benefits of such associations 

 into other localities. 



3. Horse Insurance Societies. 



Besides the clubs which insure pigs and cows respectively, 

 there are three registered societies which insure both cattle 

 and horses, also one which insures both cattle and swine. There 

 are twelve which insure horses only. These are organised on 

 the same principles as the cow clubs. The best known horse 

 insurance society, that at Bed worth, Warwickshire, has about 

 ninety members and insures over 100 horses. The insurance 

 rate is Id. per week for every bl. in value, besides a yearly 

 subscription of some 4s. per annum. This is little more than 

 half the rate charged by insurance companies. But the most 

 interesting feature of the work of the Society has been the 

 arrangement for veterinary attendance on all horses insured, in 

 the same way in which sick clubs contracted with their 

 medical officers. An annual parade is held, when all animals 

 are inspected and valued by the veterinary surgeon, and a 

 careful record is kept of the age and condition of each. This 

 valuation serves as the assessment for compensation, three- 

 fourths of the value placed upon any animal being paid if it 

 dies within the ensuing year. The social character of this 

 parade undoubtedly has considerable influence on the owners 

 of horses and serves to strengthen the society, for its solidity is 

 remarkable, especially when the competition which must occur 



