182 Friendly Societies, State Action, and the Poor-law. 
" (1) No certificate implies a guarantee of solvency. 
"(2) Class A comprises societies which have conformed 
•with all requirements of the law, and are acting upon tables 
of contribution and benefit approved for their use. . . . 
" We are of opinion that it would presently come to pass that 
all societies would be divided in an appreciable manner into two 
classes only, societies presumably sound, ' Class A,' and societies 
as to the soundness of which nothing could be predicated. 
. . . As a better understanding of the whole subject advanced, 
these societies would respectively gain and lose favour with the 
public accordingly." I may be allowed to add, that the best 
publication would be by way of annual advertisement of a list 
of societies of " Class A " in the local newspapers, which would 
thus keep the members informed of that of which they Avould 
probably hear nothing through the Reports on Friendly Societies. 
In the event of a National or Post-Ofiice Friendly Society 
being offered to labourers, membership in the same, or in any 
society of Class A, would not tell to the prejudice of any 
applicant for relief. That applications will be occasionally 
made from some unfortunate persons whose insurance provision 
is unexceptionable, is but too probable. The Guardians Avould 
know how to deal with them. Their line of action would lose 
the charm of variety, and we should have uniform treatment in 
lieu of disorder and error. One is at a loss to know how this 
could conflict with the principle of the Poor-law, " that every 
person has a legal right to have his necessities relieved, without 
regard to his deserts." 
Inasmuch as we cannot hope to obtain another system of 
relief for the destitute in lieu of the Poor-law, let us try to 
improve it, wherever it is shown to be deficient, and administer 
it as well as we can. But together with a strict and wholesome 
administration of the relief, let the assistance of the State be no 
longer withheld in providing the care, supervision, and manage- 
ment which the poorer class of labourers of this country greatly 
need, and which in time they would value highly. I have shown 
that the sums they contrive to pay for their benefits, so called, 
are sufficient, if duly secured to them, to provide an inde- 
pendence, humble indeed, but far superior in every way to 
that maintenance which they may claim, when nothing else 
remains, from the State. Such a provision as is here pleaded 
for them, being honestly acquired by their own exertion and 
prudence, will raise the moral and social character of the poor 
in a remarkable degree. This is no mere theory, but matter of 
experience, though far from common among them. I have again 
called attention to the superiority of this system to that in common 
use, for the due protection and administration of the sick fund ; 
