Friendhj Societies, State Action, and the Poor-laiv. 159 
these large and important institutions even to salutary measures, 
but the old public spirit still survives among their leaders, and 
if need be will be forthcoming for the public good. I for one 
rely on the same open and fair treatment which was formerly 
expressed towards my proposal, when under public discussion, 
by Mr. Pinchbeck, then the Parliamentary agent of the Odd- 
fellows and the Foresters. 
Other influences against reform must, however, be taken 
into account in all attempts to alter and amend the law re- 
lating to Friendly Societies. Bankers are often connected with 
the Insurance Companies, and are unwilling to concede more 
liberty to the Friendly Society than they can help. Consider- 
able difficulty, it is said, was occasioned by them to Mr. Fawcett, 
now the Postmaster-General, in his useful attempts to encourage 
thrift, by enabling small investments in Government Stocks to 
be made through the office. The opposition of the Insurance 
Companies and Bankers has made itself felt from time to time 
in hinderiner and restrictins: the business of life insurance 
through the Friendly Society. For instance, the highest sum 
which could be insured was formerly 200/. Subsequently an 
alteration was made, reducing it to 100/. It was again restored 
to 200/., causing with each alteration the societies to alter their 
rules. It now stands at 200/., on no very secure footing, if one 
may judge from the past, and the restriction imposed on the 
Post-Office, which is limited to 100/. as the maximum. The 
Act which enables insurances to be obtained through the Post- 
Office is, in more respects than one, an instance of dexterous 
opposition. 
On the one hand, as I have stated, the limit is half that at 
present conceded to the Friendly Societies, by which means a 
considerable number of mechanics and persons of restricted 
means who desire to insure for upwards of 100/. will find their 
way to the Insurance Companies — very rarely to the Friendly 
Society. If enabled to insure for double the amount, they 
would, in many cases, doubtless avail themselves of the Post 
Office. On the other hand, the minimum amount of insurance, 
20/., is so high as to be beyond the reach of farm, &c., labourers, 
though a half promise was made to reduce it to 5/. by the late 
Duke of Montrose, formerly Postmaster-General.* Thus then, 
while the Post-Office was started on a most useful road for the 
good of the industrial and labouring classes, it was sorely 
crippled by these restrictions in offering insurances which are 
of a very profitable kind. It was, however, made very welcome 
* The attempt was made in the House of Commons, but did not succeed. 
