84 
Poxt- Office Insurance for Labourers. 
classes would have the opportunity of the same assistance, and 
would seek the advantages of the certificate of the Registrar, not 
only as a proof of their trustworthiness, but as giving their 
members the advantage of being able to obtain relief other than 
the House. 
The Registrar would prepare — 
(1) A schedule of all Societies whose assets were found to be 
greater than their liabilities at the last preceding valuation, and 
whose accounts were passed for the year, and should certify the 
same, and that their rules were in conformity with the law. 
(2) A second schedule, viz., of Societies whose liabilities were 
greater than their assets, or accounts badly kept, stating that 
they were debarred by such cause from his certificate. These, 
with all Societies which decline the registry, should be considered 
Societies which do not fulfil the requirements of the Registrar, 
and rank as uncertified Societies. 
These schedules should be appended to the Registrar's annual 
report, which should be published so that the Guardians of every 
Union might have the means of referring to such source of infor- 
mation respecting the Friendly Society, any member of which is 
an applicant for relief. The Guardians would by such assistance 
be able to deal heavy discouragement on the Benefit Societies 
which, in their formation and management, keep the poor-rate 
in view. 
We now come to the question as to the course which legisla- 
tion should take in providing a system of insurance suited to the 
labouring class. That they can be coerced by law into leaving 
the pauperising club and joining a better, or even reforming 
what they have, is not possible ; but a safe and easily understood 
svstem of insurance, offered them at a cost not greater than they 
are paying for " benefits" already, while their grip on the poor- 
rate is resolutely shaken off by the Guardians, would involve 
no invasion of their rights and liberties, but would confer on 
them great advantages ; and, by enabling them to win their 
independent maintenance by their own prudence and exertion, 
it would materially advance their moral and social welfare. 
Give to labourers, not debarred by age or infirmity, the free 
offer of joining a safe and well-managed provident institution at 
a price they can afford to pay for the same, administer the 
Poor Law in the manner above discussed, and it will then be 
their fault, and no longer their misfortune, if they do not improve 
their position. 
Effort has already been made, and, 1 regret to say, without 
success, to induce the authorities of the Post-Office to obtain 
certain alterations in the Act which enables them to grant 
insurances, and thus empower the Post-Oflice to undertike the 
