82 
Post- Office Insurance f 01' Labourers. 
rates, it may be noted that the questionable privilege of the 
Small Tenements Act has clone mischief in country districts. 
, It has given rise to the abuse known as "farming the rates." The 
owner pays say 45. a year in lieu of rates, and charges his tenant 
Ad. a week in the rent. It is no wonder that intelligent labourers 
consider that a grievance is thereby inflicted on them for which 
their redress is to get as much as they can from the rate. Where 
the Act is in force the poor are in favour of rate plunder, and do 
not care how many rates are made in the year. Where they are 
compelled to pay the rate as the same is due and payable, it 
becomes, in their opinion, a matter of consequence to have the 
rates as few and far between as possible. Such legislation 
strengthens them in their vicious hold on the poor-rate. 
VI. and VII. We come, in the next place, to the treatment to be 
adopted in the case of members of Friendly Societies claiming 
relief. A difference should be made between members of Friendly 
Societies approved by the Registrar and those who belong to 
societies, the rules, regulations, and accounts of which will not 
pass the examination of that officer. In the latter case the applicants 
should have nothing but the offer of the House. This treatment 
would strike a blow at all Benefit Societies which have been 
framed with special reference to leaving their members sooner or 
later to the poor-rate, and would compel their members to re-form 
the Societies on a proper basis, or to forsake them for better. 
Societies which cannot be dealt with by the law may thus 
be reached by the Guardians of the Poor. For the purpose of 
distinguishing between Societies to be encouraged and those 
which should be discouraged by the Guardians, the Registrar's 
certificate should be made a testimonial, not only that the rules 
are in conformity with the law, but that the society is a hondjide 
provident institution. 
Thus far with regard to the Poor Law and its better administra- 
tion. In corroboration of the views expressed in this article 
as to the power of influencing labourers thiough the Poor Law to 
cultivate provident habits, I may refer to the results which 
appear to have been realised already at Elberfeld, thoug\i it is to 
be regretted that fuller information was not collected on this part 
of the subject by Her Majesty's Inspector. "The general 
opinion," that gentleman reports, " of those persons whom we 
had an opportunity of consulting is, that the system of Poor Law 
administration has had a marked effect upon the habits of the 
people, induciiif/ much (jreatcr thrift and j)rovidence. This seems to 
be confirmed by such returns of Bcneft Societies as ive had access 
to. The number of contributors appears to increase steadily "from 
year to year." 
1 will now consider what powers should be given to the 
