160 Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. 
to the business of annuities, the same being neither profitable 
nor popular. 
Again, any measure which might affect the valuable property 
of the public-houses is not likely to pass without the keen 
scrutiny of the brewers. The late Mr. Tidd Pratt used to say 
that the " connection " of the benefit club was occasionally sold 
as part of the goodwill of the house. There is no reason to 
doubt the correctness of his statement. Here then are diffi- 
culties which, if one is to judge by the utterances of some who 
are most earnest in labouring for additional means to encourage 
thrift among labourers, have not received the consideration to 
which they are entitled. They must, however, be carefully 
dealt with by all who desire to join in the work of regenerating 
Friendly Societies, and to extend their usefulness. 
Nevertheless, when we consider the character of those who 
take the lead in the mercantile and trading interests of this 
country, and how imperative is the duty of striving to better the 
condition of those who cannot help themselves, and who are 
worthy of the effort, an appeal for at least generous forbearance 
will hardly be made in vain. I do not rest our claim on their 
assistance, on the argument that the improved condition of the 
rural and other poor which enabled them to make a little in- 
dependent provision, by means of moneys now mostly wasted 
in the vain attempt to obtain it, could lessen the number of 
members, or impair the influence of any sound society in the 
land ; or could disturb the money-market to any appreciable 
degree ; or, least of all, injure the interests of the brewer. The 
main argument to be submitted to their consideration is, that 
their help is sorely needed by their poorer fellow-countrymen, 
and that there is a responsibility which cannot be evaded or 
ignored by those who have made the commercial interests of 
their countrv the wonder of the world, not merely to abstain 
from obstruction, but to take their part in such efforts as are here 
earnestly, though with but poor ability, pleaded. Little real 
advance can be made in the arduous task of improving the 
social and moral condition of the poor, if it fails to elicit the 
sympathy and the support of those who have not yet done their 
part in the work, but have been led to view it as possibly in- 
jurious to their interests. 
The position of the farm labourer compares not unfavourably 
with that described by me in this 'Journal' in 1872. Consider- 
ing the depression in agriculture, which has impoverished land- 
lords and tenants and ruined not a few, it is remarkable that 
the labourer has escaped. His turn may come, but not perhaps 
in a, reduction of his wages or a rise in the price of the 
