] 72 Friendlij Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. 
their attaining 70 years of age, or from sickness of upwards 
of 104 weeks' duration, are afforded half-pay in illness, which 
ma}' last their lives. Notwithstanding, 16 per cent, is the 
average annual number of its sick list. The average of the 
Hampshire Friendly Society is about 7. This Society (founded 
1828) probably owes the extraordinary reduction of the sick 
list to the adoption of the plan of the late Hon. and Rev. 
Samuel Best, whose labours will long be held in grateful 
memory. Mr. Best's plan, which the Commissioners thought 
somewhat elaborate,* provides an extraordinary check on claims 
for trifling illness, by making the member draw out, for each 
week's pay from the General Sickness Fund, a portion of a 
deposit paid by him to his separate account, and called his 
" rest." The adoption of Mr. Best's plan I should desire to see 
brought into use, if the Government will undertake sickness 
pay, but not at the outset. 
It only remains to say that it is impossible for these two 
Societies to resort to the system of " espionage," on which the 
Commissioners place confidence. But, supposing that it were 
possible, who would be so foolish as to adopt a system which 
fails to secure adequate protection ? The espionage of one 
neighbour over another cannot be compared to the means which 
these old societies have in use, and which will be found to be 
exactly adapted to the requirements of a sickness and burial- 
money branch of an institution managed by the State. No 
special inquiry was made by the Commission on this important 
and indeed vital part of the question ; and the objection from 
the supposed risk of fraud has been repeated again and again 
by writers and speakers, who would be surprised to learn that 
the means of protection at the service of the State are not only 
far superior to those in common use, but are well worth the 
adoption of all well-managed societies, affiliated or other. If 
one did not notice the indisposition which commonly exists 
against altering a system, though defective and faulty, we should 
be surprised at espionage being in use in any but the worst- 
managed public-house clubs in this country. j The system is 
lully described in my Method, to which the reader is referred. 
Again, there is the misapprehension that State action of this 
kind would entail great additional labour on district-postmasters. 
The management of a branch of fifty or sixty members, insured 
for sickness-pay, docs not entail the trouble commonly supposed. 
There would be an average of six or eight members on the fund 
in the course of the year. Due medical supervision is secured 
* " Exceedingly ii)p;enious, but most nrtificiiil system." — Report. 
t Tliis answer icfutt s the " insuptniblc objcolinii " which Mr. Scudumore 
maintained. (Sec bis evidence, p. 1G3, inc., Tliird Keport.) 
