110 Farm Labourers, their Friendly Societies, 
When a person wishes to become an " endowment " member 
of the society, the agent gives him a blank declaration paper, 
which he fills up with his name, age, occupation, residence, and the 
amount for which he wishes to join, and further states in writing 
the amount of the monthly contribution (for which he refers 
to the society's tables), to be paid for the same. If the pro- 
posal is made in behalf of a nominee, the age of the nominee 
and parentage and residence are also stated. The declaration 
paper is then transmitted by the agent to the secretary, who 
lays it before the board of directors in the district to which the 
agency belongs. . The policy, which is issued in such cases almost 
as a matter of course, is filled up, signed at the board by three 
directors, entered in the society's register by the secretary, who 
numbers it, and sends it to the agent, who gives it to the new 
member, with a little card on which the contributions are entered. 
The policy recites the conditions, quoted from the rules, on 
which the society is to pay, and with which the member must 
comply under the penalty of fines or forfeiture. The contri- 
butions are to be paid bi-monthly to the agent, who does not go 
about among the members to collect them, but receives them at 
his office. No difficulty occurs, and no special commission is so 
much as thought of for a transaction which consists in receiving 
money and marking the amount on the contribution card against 
which the agent's initials are placed. A small fine fixed by rule 
secures promptness of payment, both in the case of the endow- 
ment and all other insurances made in the society. 
When a person wishes to insure for sickness pay and burial 
money, the agent supplies him with a declaration paper which he 
fills up ; or, if he cannot write, the agent fills it up for him. 
Any I'alse statement in it vitiates all subsequent claim. The 
candidate states his name, age, residence, occupation, and the 
amount he wishes to secure in sickness and burial money, and 
what is to be paid for it. He answers certain questions relating 
to his constitution, and signs his declaration. A paper is sent to 
the proposer's medical attendant, containing questions of the 
same character, and a third paper is filled up by the agent. 
Evidence of age is also required, and then the case is complete 
iox the decision of the board. About ten per cent, of the appli- 
cations for sickness and burial money are declined, great care 
being used to take none but healthy candidates. Nor will the 
society grant an insurance to a labourer which would secure him 
an equal amount of money from its funds in sickness to that 
which he can cam in health. A man whose wages are 15s. a 
week would be allowed to insure as high as 12s. in sickness. 
When sickness pay is claimed, the member sends a paper 
declaring "on " the funds of the society, which is guaranteed by 
