Post-Office Insurance for Labourers. 
99 
h orn that time to the present, and a great opportunity of assisting 
tlie work of the social and moral improvement of the labouring 
classes has thus far been neglected. Surely, the consideration 
that advantages are being withheld from persons who, by their 
own unassisted intelligence, cannot help themselv^, will have 
weight. 
The objection started by some actuaries that sufficient personal 
supervision cannot be exercised by the Post-Office, and that, 
therefore, the frauds guarded against in small Societies would be 
easilv practised on the Post-Office Society, is founded in ignor- 
ance of the practical working of such supervision, and of the 
existence of superior means of protection. 
The returns of sickness in such Societies in the south-eastern 
district of England are stated at about 27 per cent, per annum, and 
are probably higher. In the County of Kent Friendly Society, in 
>vhich it is impossible to adopt the system of espionage of mem- 
bers over one another, inasmuch as the members are scattered 
over the county, the returns are very considerably less ; the 
members have, as a rule, but little personal knowledge of each 
other, and the percentage is seldom as much as 15, and has 
been under 11. This Society employs the method of super- 
vision recommended for the Post-Office. In the Hampshire 
Friendly Society, the rate is still less. Both Societies have been 
established upwards of 40 years, and are solvent ; the former is 
wealthy. Will anyone seriously maintain that the means of 
protection against fraud and imposition used by these Societies 
could not be used at least as effectively bv the Post-Office ? It 
is in truth a frivolous objection to allege that the latter could not 
adopt securities against malingerers, of a much better kind than 
those used in Societies which resort to the questionable protection 
of espionage. In practice, any fraudulent use of the sickness 
fund is a dangerous experiment. 
Xor are there the opportunities for simulating sickness among 
labourers which persons who know but little of them mav 
suppose. When by the terms of their insurance there must be 
compulsory idleness ; no drinking with boon companions in the 
beershop, or being so much as seen within its proscribed precincts ; 
but a home with little or no comfort for the pseudo invalid, 
and probably much discomfort — the position becomes untenable, 
and outdoor work on a winter's day is preferred. 
Putting aside the common honesty and fair dealing of labourers, 
the reader will have observed that testimony as to character is 
required in the questions for proposers for sickness-pav and 
burial-money. Labourers prefer 145. a week at their work to 12s. 
claimed under compulsory confinement to the house, received at 
great risk, and under much discomfort. 
H 2 
