54S ; Insurance of Cattle in France. [dec, 



to s£fc that claims for compensation are not improperly made 

 and to keep the management entirely in their own hands. 



The organisation of these societies varies in different districts. 

 In some cases, instead of the payment by each member of a fixed 

 premium dependent on the capital value insured, the amount 

 of the losses is shared amongst the members quarterly or half- 

 yearly, the whole business of payment of losses and collection of 

 subscriptions being transacted at one meeting. The French 

 Minister of Agriculture points out that this method has the 

 advantage of being easily understood by persons not well 

 acquainted with co-operative methods, and tends to remove those 

 feelings of distrust which are sometimes found in centres not 

 yet accustomed to insurance or co-operation. Many societies, 

 again, are affiliated to some central union which guarantees the 

 payments should they, as in the event of an outbreak of disease, 

 exceed the resources of the society. For example, in the case of 

 the insurance societies in the Department of La Sarthe, the 

 indemnity for losses is fixed at 70 per cent., and this is shared in 

 proportion to the value insured among the members ; if, how- 

 ever, the total compensation should exceed an amount equal to 

 a premium of 1 per cent., the balance is defrayed by the 

 Central Union, towards the funds of which a contribution is 

 made of is. for every ,£100 insured ; this union was established 

 under the auspices of the Syndicat des Agriculteurs de la Sarthe, 

 who made a grant for that purpose of ^"800 out of their reserve 

 funds. 



Another type of society, largely adopted, is that requiring the 

 payment of a fixed annual premium. The members of these 

 associations pay an entrance fee of iod. per animal insured, but 

 this is frequently reduced to 5d. in the first year of the society's 

 existence. The annual premium is 1 per cent, of the value of 

 the cattle insured, paid quarterly or half-yearly, but if this is in- 

 sufficient to meet the demands it may be raised to 2 per cent, 

 before drawing on the reserve funds. On the other hand, under 

 favourable circumstances the premium may be reduced. Com- 

 pensation is paid for losses at the rate of 80 per cent, or four- 

 fifths of the value, less any sums received for the flesh, hide, &c. 

 of the dead animal ; or, in the case of compulsory slaughter, less 

 any compensation obtained. ■ No compensation is paid for deaths 



