WORK DONE OR PROJECTED 243 



Cow INSURANCE. 



Of co-operative societies in England and Wales dealing 

 exclusively with the insurance of cows and calves there are 

 two kinds those registered under the Friendly Societies 

 Acts and those that are unregistered and are generally 

 known as " cow clubs." Of the former there were twenty- 

 two on December 3ist, 1910. The number of the latter is 

 known to be considerable, but statistics in regard to them 

 have not yet been collected. 



In 1910 the 22 registered societies had 1,613 members who 

 had insured 4,588 cows and calves, and the total sum 

 realised in premiums and levies for the insurance fund 

 during the year was 929, an average premium of 45. o%d. 

 per animal. Other items increased the total income to 

 1,132. Sixteen societies, insuring 4,017 animals, returned 

 their cost of management as 95, an average of less than 

 6d. per animal. For the twenty-two societies the surplus of 

 assets over liabilities (other than insurance liabilities) was, 

 at the end of the year, 4,812, as compared with 4,975, the 

 gross amount at the credit of the insurance fund. This 

 4,812 represents " a true surplus accumulated during past 

 years owing to the expenditure being less than the income." 

 It not only brings in a considerable sum in interest, but 

 secures the members against the risk of having to make 

 special levies on themselves to meet losses in excess of the 

 available funds. 



The members of the societies are mostly small holders and 

 cottagers. The work of each society is carried on by two or 

 three trustees, a committee of management, one or more 

 stewards, a secretary, and a treasurer, all elected at the 

 annual general meeting. Most of the societies have an 

 elaborate system of fines for the maintenance of discipline. 



Of the 22 societies 10 have been in existence for over 50 

 years. One, at Mawdesley, Lancashire, was established 

 in 1807. It still insures 52 cows at a premium of 6s. a year, 

 pays 10 on each cow that dies from disease or accident, and 

 has a reserve fund of 46, enough to pay four years' probable 



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