466 General Cattle Mutual Insurance Fund. 



Anything- sanctioned by the authorities for suppressing- 

 disease to be facilitated in every way by the administration of 

 the fund ; and the inspectors under proper arrangements to be 

 called in for advice. 



The operations of the fund in each county to be reported on 

 periodically, and the Report for each county to be sent to the 

 Justices, or other authorities, for any observations or suggestions 

 which they may have to make. 



The premiums, if charged per head, would on this plan vary 

 21 ith the mortality ; that is, they would be payable by equal in- 

 stalments of say 25. a head, collected at longer or shorter intervals 

 of time, so as to meet the losses.* The same principle might be 

 applied if the premium were rated upon the value. 



Insurants might have the option of paying variable premiums 

 at quarterly or fixed intervals of time. 



If the premiums are collected in advance, the profits accruing 

 on their investment would go towards the expenses, which would 

 be rigorously provided out of the fund. 



This measure might be tried for a single year, and re-enacted 

 annually with any suggested improvements : the plan would 

 have a fair trial, and perhaps have answered its immediate 

 purpose, in the course of three years. Any surplus in the fund 

 might be distributed as in other Mutual Insurance Societies, by 

 way of bonus amongst the members. 



The information thus collected and laid before Parliament 

 would aid in the investigation of the causes of cattle mor- 

 tality, and would thus complete the inquiry which the Royal 

 Commission has commenced. 



There can be no doubt that the severity of these causes of 

 mortality can be greatly diminished by judicious hygienic 

 measures ; and that the saving of stock would pay the expenses 

 incurred. 



The fund for England, Scotland, and Ireland to be separately 

 administered ; each country thus insuring its own stock. 



If the genera] scheme be not adopted the scheme is applicable 

 to counties by the intervention of the county treasurers, the 

 police, the cattle inspectors, and the collectors of county rates. 

 The committees of magistrates might select a Joint Managing 

 Committee, all subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. 



Arrangements might be made with existing local Insurance 

 Societies, and their ablest officers might be engaged. Con- 

 tributors to this fund to be entitled to such an addition to the 



* The premiums would not in ordinary times be called for oftener than every 

 other month, and in times of Kinderpest not oftener than monthly. 



