402 Coutimiation of the same Subject. Bk. iv. 



they are at present constituted, though managed 

 by the contributors themselves, are seldom dis- 

 tributed with the economy necessary to their per- 

 manent efficiency; and in the national societies 

 proposed, as a considerable part of the fund would 

 be derived from the poor's rates, there is certainly 

 reason to expect that every question which could 

 be influenced by the contributors would be deter- 

 mined on principles still more indulgent, and less 

 economical. 



On this account it may well be doubted, whe- 

 ther it would ever be advisable to mix any public 

 money, derived from assessments, with the sub- 

 scriptions of the labouring classes. The probable 

 result would be, that in the case of any failure in 

 the funds of such societies, arising from erroneous 

 calculations and too liberal allowances, it would 

 be expected that the whole of the deficiency should 

 be made up byHhe assessments. And any rules 

 which might have been made to limit the amount 

 applied in this way would probably be but a feeble 

 barrier against claims founded on a plan brought 

 forward by the higher classes of society. 



Another strong objection to this sort of union of 

 parochial and private contributions is, that from 

 the first the members of such societies could not 

 justly feel themselves independent. If one half 

 or one third of the fund were to be subscribed from 

 the parish, they would stand upon a very different 

 footing from the members of the present benefit- 

 clubs. While so considerable a part of the al- 

 lowances to which they might be entitled in sick- 



