TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 223 



On the Manual Labour Classes of England, Wales, and Scotland. 

 By W. Tatlee, F.S.S. 



On Census Beform. By James Valentine, of Aberdeen. 



The object of this paper was to advocate the more frequent taking of the census 

 of the people, and some changes therein, especially in the case of large towns, in 

 order more particularly to ensure a broad and sound basis for our vital statistics. 



The author suggested that the following arrangements should be adopted : — 



1. A census, confined perhaps to the numbers of the people, the sexes, the ages on 

 the classification of the Kegistrar-General's Vital Statistics— under 5, 5-20, 20-60, 

 GO and above ; and perhaps thft numbers at work and at school respectively should 

 be taken every year, or every two years. 



2. The census should be taken under the superintendence of local authorities 

 (say town councils), acting with imperial sanction and at local expense. 



3. As to the mode of carrying out the plan, cards might be delivered to every 

 household a week or two before the census-day (say, by the letter-carriers, with 

 some assistance, if necessary) ; and the citizens should be required to attend at di- 

 strict recording places, and give in these cards, properly filled up, to one or more 

 sworn officers, appointed to receive them. Those unable to fill up the card might 

 give the particulars viva voce ; or the whole census might be taken and recorded 

 in this way. 



4. Each district might be a town parish, and there should be manageable blocks 

 or subdivisions, marked out so that the population and other census particulars of 

 each be distinctly recorded. 



6. For providing other particulars, of what the author called sanitary geography, 

 as regards the dwelling-houses there should be a surveyor, with access to the valua- 

 tion roll ; and the medical officer of the place would find in this province profitable 

 use for his services in various ways. 



6. The figures, on being summed and duly authenticated, would be transmitted 

 to the Registrar-General, and the results adopted by him. 



7. There should, however, be a local publication of detailed particulars, popularly 

 stated, and full publicity given to it. 



Should this machmery appear at first sight too elaborate, the present system, 

 cumbrous and unsatisfactory in several respects as it is, might be continued, but 

 with a quinquennial instead of a decennial census, and annual returns procured by 

 some simple machinery made, showing the exact population of a place, with the 

 ages at four periods of life ; or, again, to reduce the reform to a minimum, the pro- 

 posed change might apply to towns only, though there is no difficulty about ascer- 

 taining the population of a country parish, and it is better to have strict accuracy. 



On the Organization of Societies, nationally and locally considered. 

 By R. Bailey "Walker, Manchester. 



The object of this paper was — 1, to show the ineffectiveness of the present system 

 of separate societary organization ; 2, to suggest an elementary step in the direction 

 of further or inter -societaxj organization, and to show its national and local appli- 

 cation ; 3, to contrast the economy of positive, and the wastefulness of negative 

 (opposition) work, and therefore to urge work of a positive character only, as being 

 consistent with a right understanding of social economics. 



On the Law of Capital. By William "Westgaeth, 



In bringing up this contentious and oft-told tale of capital once more, the author 

 said, by way of excuse, that he would try to make it thoroughly practical, and one 

 from the merchant's view rather than that of the S3'steraatic economist. The awful 

 accoimts just being received of the effects of famine in Persia show the importance 

 of capital to any country. Such sudden and frightful misery coidd not occur in 



