Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. 173 
by the man's doctor signing, in the first place, his declaration 
of sickness (to be sent to the agent), and from time to time 
initialling the form also supplied, stating its continuance. 
There are many cases in which the agent need not, for the 
purpose of security, visit the man more than once, though 
caution is always required. His duty is to see that the claim 
is fair, and to pay it. The payment may be made to any 
member of the family who is authorised to receive it, and will 
call for it weekly, or, as is oftener the case, at longer intervals. 
I may also notice that for the first few years in a new institution 
claims would be fewer than the average above given. 
Lastly, the opinion that house-to-house collectors are re- 
quired in order to keep the members punctual in their con- 
tributions, was insisted on, though Mr. Scudamore was not 
disposed to think that much difficulty would arise in pro- 
viding a staff of collectors from the letter-carriers. The evi- 
dence relating to the necessity of collectors should, however, be 
qualified by other evidence taken by the Commission on the 
extraordinary payments which they receive, and the saleable 
value of their books.* The plan of having a system of fines for 
arrears, ending in forfeiture, due warning being given to the 
members to see that their monthly contributions are paid at the 
appointed time and place, works fairly well. The member will 
bring or send his money and receipt-card ; and it will be his 
interest to take care that he does not sustain injury by neglect. f 
Many alleged difficulties will disappear on careful examina- 
tion, or prove to be of but little weight. I will mention one 
which relates to the maximum amount to which labourers 
should be allowed to insure for sickness. It should be restricted 
to five-sixths of his earnings in cash payments. These are far 
from being uniform in England. Where the money is less, 
there is an equivalent in house-rent, garden, fuel, &c. The 
common rate of cash payment in wages would govern the 
maximum sickness pay in any district, but the amount com- 
monly insured for sickness in the clubs in the locality would 
also tell with sufficient accuracy how far the Post-Office should 
allow them to go. I provide for this by means of the Classes 
* The reader is referred to the evidence and the Report of the Commission on 
this question. Briefly, "a collector of 30Z. a week would realise about 400Z. a 
year, a very fortunate position for a man originally labouring at 1/. a week. The 
price of collector's books varies considerably, the highest figure in evidence 
being 675Z." ! 
t " All who have to do with them agree that country labourers are the best 
jOTssible members a club can have, the most punctual in their payments, and of 
a good average healthiness : — they require guidance and assistance to enable 
them to carry on a society on correct principles." — Sir George Young (Eeport to 
the Commission, p. 2). 
