158 Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. 
law, and the tables of contribution to be approved by an 
actuary. The remedy is, I fear, doubtful, unless subsequent 
supervision should be vigilantly maintained by the help of the 
actuary, and powers given to wind up the affairs of societies 
which failed to comply with the requirements of the Registrar, 
on the report of the actuary. There is, however, a suggestion 
of great practical value in Mr. Harcourt's proposal. To say that 
people may form or join any benefit club they like, is merely 
conceding the liberty of the citizen. It would not be easy to 
frame a law, which, while securing them against fraud or folly, 
did not interfere with their liberty to please themselves. But 
there could be no infringement of such liberty if, allowing 
people to form any clubs they liked, it were made penal for any 
manager or trustee of such club to hold moneys thereto belong- 
ing without giving security for the same, and duly accounting 
for the property entrusted to him, not merely on the motion of 
any aggrieved member, but as a part of the duties of his office, 
without discharging which, he should be dealt with as the law 
directs. An additional defence, and one of great value, might 
thus be secured to the insurances of the poor. 
In addition, however, to the perils and dangers of private 
Bill legislation, which spring from the pressure of public 
business, all such praiseworthy efforts as Mr. Harcourt's must 
run the gauntlet of a powerful opposition. The fear that class 
interests are likely to be imperilled, leads but too frequently to 
a successful resistance.* The competition for insurances is very 
keen, and any attempt which might indirectly interfere with 
business and divert it from its customary channels is viewed 
with jealousy. The affiliated societies do not regard alteration 
of the law, or indeed any interference with their affairs, by the 
Registrar, with favour ; and they unquestionably possess the 
power to make their opposition a matter to be carefully reckoned 
with in Parliament. 
That the Unity and the Foresters will oppose any movement 
which is likely to benefit the labouring classes, especially of the 
lower degree among which they have not as yet made so great a 
progress as they desire, is improbable. The support which the 
affiliated societies gave to the Committee above mentioned, in 
obtaining the Commission of Inquiry into Friendly Societies, in 
the face of obstacles, and manoeuvres ingeniously contrived by 
parties who did not relish the notion of investigation at all, must 
not be forgotten. It is doubtless easy to stir up the opposition of 
* Mr. Gladstone was compelled to alter for the worse tlie Post-Offlce Act 
above alluded to, from tho opposition hero alluded to. 
