Ch. xii. Continuation of tJie same Subject. 403 



ness or in age would really come from the poor's 

 rates, they would be apt to consider the plan as 

 what, in many respects, it really would be, — only 

 a different mode of raising the rates. If the sys- 

 tem were to become general, the contributions of 

 the labouring classes would have nearly the effects 

 of a tax on labour, and such a tax has been gene^ 

 rally considered as more unfavourable to industry 

 and production than most other taxes. 



The best part of Mr. Curwen's plan is that which 

 proposes to give a credit to each contributor in 

 proportion to the amount of his contributions, and 

 to make his allowance in sickness, and his annuity 

 in old age, dependent upon this amount; but this 

 object could easily be accomplished without the 

 objectionable accompaniments, \X is also very 

 properly observed, that "want of employment 

 " must furnish no claims on the society ; for, if 

 ** this excuse were to be admitted, it would most 

 <* probably be attended with the most pernicious 

 " consequences." Yet it is at the same time rather 

 rashly intimated, that employment must be found 

 for all who are able to work ; and in another place 

 it is observed, that timely assistance would be af- 

 forded by these societies, without degradation, on 

 all temporary occasions of suspended labour. 



On the whole, when it is considered that a large 

 and probably increasing amount of poor's rates 

 would be subscribed to these societies ; that on 

 this account their members could hardly be con- 

 sidered as independent of parish assistance ; and 

 that the usual poor's rates would still remain to be 



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