The Agricultural Labourer. 
1^1 = 525 
sickness and a pittance sufficient to keep the subscriber from Benefit 
e parish in old age. These societies were established in great Societies fre- 
imbers a generation or two ago ; but unfortunately, in too fo^fures. 
any cases, they were based upon a false foundation. A short 
riot! of fictitious prosperity has been too often followed by a 
arp strain upon their resources (as the older members became 
nultaneously entitled to some relief from their funds), which 
s proved too much for their stability. It is little wonder if the 
merous examples which have occurred of the failure of these 
•nefit Clubs should have damped the new-born desire of the 
asant to render himself independent. 
It would far exceed the limits imposed on me to notice the 
rious difficulties which have arisen in the working of many of 
se Benefit Societies. These are matters which the wisest 
ids in English country affiiirs have long occupied themselves 
1 on, and with some success ; but it may be very briefly stated 
1 it the administration of the Poor Law, which to a great extent 
(volves upon the guardians of each Union separately, has been 
1 favourable to the development of such societies. 
It is extremely difficult to teach a man provident habits when Weakness of 
1 sees the careless and thriftless equally considered with 
Inself by the authorities deputed to administer the public 
fids. In too many cases the small sum which the scraped- 
t ether savings of youth or middle life have provided, by con- 
t jutions to the Benefit Club, for the support of old age, are 
t lalled or exceeded in amount by the sum which the guardians 
ireflectingly allot for the out-door relief of some imprudent 
f ow who has never made the effort to save, though his means 
al circumstances may have been identical with those of his 
r re careful neighbour. 
3ut notwithstanding the fate of too many of these societies 
al the difficulties against which they have struggled, it is 
pasing to know that many of them have been instrumental of 
nch good in rural districts. In one case the temptation of a 
gden allotment of half an acre at a very moderate rent, made 
bthe owner of the parish, has attached the entire labouring 
pmlation of the village to the Club, which gives in addition 
a the ordinary advantages of such institutions. But the Paro- 
ciil Clubs have rarely been so successful as this. The larger 
Cmty Societies, managed upon a sufficient scale by competent 
(1 ;ctors, and with an influential list of patrons and subscribers, 
hie been found upon the whole far superior to the smaller 
chs. I do not think it necessary to instance any societies in 
p:ticular, because most of them are to a great extent supported 
b classes other than the farm-labourers, but I give about the 
u al rate of contribution which is sufficient in some of the best 
