Post-Office Insurance for Labourers. 
83 
Registrar of Friendly Societies in order to enable him, in addition 
to his present functions, to g^ive the assistance desired. 
On the death of Mr. Tidd Pratt the proposal to transfer the 
duties of the certifying officer to the Board of Trade was 
exbodied in a Bill brought in by the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer, Mr. Lowe. The Bill, however, was withdrawn, and 
the effort made, probably with a view to lessen the expense of the 
Registrar and his staff, proved abortive, I am not surprised 
that this course was taken, and while admitting that the duties 
of the Registrar might be fairly discharged by a department 
under the Board of Trade, think that it is for the public good to 
keep the registration of these Societies separate and independent 
of any other department, and increase the powers of the Registrar. 
To enable that officer to give a certificate of any practical value, 
he should have — 
(1) Actuarial assistance as he may find necessary for the 
purpose of examining the financial position of Societies once in 
three years ; 
(2) Auditors for the purpose of examining the annual accounts 
of Societies ; and 
(3) Lastly, an officer for prosecutions in cases of fraud. 
The cost of valuation and audit should be defrayed by the 
Societies, and, without going into the question of costs at 
length, it is not unreasonable to state that it could be easily 
defrayed by them. Although valuation commands at present 
high payment, it can be, and ought in all cases of Friendly 
Society insurances to be, done at a remunerative price far below 
that commonly charged by the actuary. We believe that no 
special charge is made in the Manchester LTnity for information 
to " courts," as to their financial position, from the central 
authorities. There can be no question that the managers of Societies 
would gladly pay in order to secure from the Registrar of 
Friendly Societies such advice as the district officers of the Unity 
may have for nothing from the corresponding secretary of that 
institution ; and the same remark will apply to the cost of 
auditors. Forms, which the actuary would prepare, should be 
supplied by the Registrar to all Societies where his certificate 
was requested, both for the annual audit and the triennial 
valuation. The officer to prosecute should however be paid by 
salary as the Registrar is paid, expenses of prosecution being 
charged as ordered by the Judge in the County Court or the 
Justices of the Peace. The higher class of Societies, such as 
those intended for the industrial class, would turn the advantages 
of valuation and audit thus offered to them to good account, and 
in many cases would, we believe, be placed in the right way to 
secure solvency. The Societies common among the labouring 
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