Post-Ojfice Insurance for Labourers. 
85 
management of such a system. And inasmuch as the Post- 
Office possesses the machinery necessary for the work, and has 
sought to bring safe insurance within reach of a portion of the 
hibouring classes — though not reaching down to the stratum 
occupied by the labourers within the verge of the rate — I am 
only pressing the question to its logical conclusion in submitting 
that the insurances required may properly be offered to the 
country under its management and by its means. 
In 1867 a memorial from the County of Kent Friendly 
Society, supported by several Boards of Guardians, clerical 
associations,' and agricultural societies in Kent, was presented 
by a deputation, headed by the Earl of Romney, to the then Post- 
master-General, the Duke of Montrose, K.T. The memorialists 
stated that, by means of an extension and adaptation of the Act 
27 & 28 Vict., c. 43, a system of insurance suited to the require- 
ments of labourers could be obtained under the supervision of 
Government and by means of the Post-Office, by which labourers 
might secure, by a single policy of insurance, sickness-pay 
from 6s. a week and upwards, together with burial-money from 
5/. and upwards, which they accordingly asked for; and, further, 
that the insurances known as Endowments might be granted by 
the Post-Office. The memorialists made no allusion to the provi- 
sion of old-age-pay, considering that, with some alteration in point 
of detail, the same might be offered with advantage to the labouring 
classes under the powers already obtained under the Act, 
The original promoters of this Act had been among the first 
to recognise the advantages easily attainable by employing the 
Post-Office as the avenue by which safe insurances should be 
offered to the industrial and labouring classes ; and it is im- 
possible to overlook these advantages in extending the benefits 
of the Friendly Society in such a form as will confer substantial 
good on the classes who, as yet, have not been reached by them. 
This proposal, which was discussed by me in a pamphlet, 
reprinted almost in extenso in the Report of the Royal Com- 
mission on the employment of young persons, women, and 
children in agriculture, and recommended as "deserving further 
attention," I again urge on public attention, and now proceed to 
state the cost at which the following insurances may be offered to 
the public, viz. :— 
(1.) Sickness-pay and burial-money, in a single assurance, as is 
the common use in Benefit Societies. (II.) Annuities and (III.) 
Burial-money to be offered as separate insurances. There are 
persons who would be glad to secure the sickness-pay, burial- 
money, and the annuity by one policy, and so pay for the three 
benefits in one contribution, due from month to month. Such 
facilities should be afforded them. 
