86 



Cow and Pig Clubs in Lincolnshire, [may, 



average Pig Club is on similar lines. The management is 

 usually in the hands of cottagers, with the host of the inn as 

 Treasurer, the Society having a current account at the local 

 bank and a small capital sum invested in the Savings Bank. 

 Few, if any, of these Clubs are registered under the Friendly 

 Societies' Acts. 



Similar rules are adopted by each Society. The entrance 

 fee is usually is. for each pig and id. per week subscription for 

 each pig. An extra charge is made for insuring breeding sows, 

 while sucking pigs are not admissible. Some Societies limit the 

 number to four pigs for each member, a rule which meets the 

 requirements of nearly all cottagers and allotment holders. 



The pig is marked usually on the right ear, and the Marker 

 is paid a fee of 3d. In case of illness the owner promptly 

 reports to the Secretary or to a member of the Committee and 

 the Valuing Committee inspect the pig as many times as is 

 considered necessary, receiving therefor 6d. each. If swine 

 fever is suspected the matter is reported to the Police Officer. 



The owner has to choose whether he will " surrender " the 

 sick pig to the Society or not. If he decide to do so, the 

 Committee dispose of the pig as they think fit. The pro- 

 portion of value allowed to the members varies ; in some 

 Clubs it is 15s. in the £, in others 17s. 6d., and, occasionally, 

 the full value is allowed. 



Pig Clubs do not, as a rule, accumulate a large Reserve Fund. 

 From £20 to £30 is considered a sufficient Reserve Fund for a 

 Club with forty or fifty members, and, occasionally, after this 

 amount is secured, further profits are divided up annually after 

 the manner of Dividing Clubs. The income of these Clubs is 

 frequently augmented by subscriptions from honorary members. 



One of the most successful Clubs in South Lincolnshire is 

 that of St. Nicholas and Holy Trinity, near Boston. It has 

 been established ten years, has two branches, and a total 

 membership of 135, with 217 pigs insured. Fifteen claims have 

 been paid during the past year, amounting to £39 2s. id., against 

 £39 5 s - 4^. in 1903. The claims paid since the formation of the 

 Club amount to the sum of ^207 12s. 4d., and the balance now 

 standing to the Club's credit is £55 18s. 5d., an increase for 

 the year of £14 5s. 6d. The sum of £2 is paid to the Secretary 



