IIG Farm Labourers, their Friendly Societies, 
26 years, and the other (which would be higher in amount for 
the same benefits) for persons upwards of 26 and not exceeding^ 
35 years of age. 
In addition to this twofold insurance, a third benefit should be 
added (at the option of the parties contracting), for an annuity 
to commence when the sickness pay ceases. This might be^ 
in some cases, included in one insurance ; in others it would 
form a second and separate insurance. 
Monthly and bimonthly contributions to be paid at the nearest 
money order office or post office selected, and the postmaster to 
be the local agent. A small fine, in case of negligence in pay- 
ments, will secure punctuality. The whole cost to be defrayed 
by a portion of the contributions set apart for a management 
fund. The whole of the machinery and its management are 
already in fair working order, having been established, in 1864, 
by the Act already referred to. The expenses of the system, on 
its introduction, would be a very small addition to those already 
incurred. The staff at head-quarters might probably need in- 
creasing; and the plan adopted, we believe, in the Essex County 
Provident Society, of travelling inspectors, to certify in certain 
sickness cases, would, if approved and acted upon, necessitate 
some additional outlay. The agency staff, with the medical 
referees, is already secured under the Act. We trust that the 
recommendation of the Commission in Agriculture that further 
consideration may be devoted to this proposal will be granted, 
and that it may be tested by the scrutiny of a friendly societies 
commission. 
The adoption of such a system would at once attract to itself 
the moral influence which the gentry, the medical profession, 
and the clergy possess. The support at present lavished upon 
untrustworthy benefit societies would be at once withdrawn, 
and though subscriptions might continue in behalf of an annual 
festival, in which all good societies might join with the Post 
Office branch, we should hear of no more bolstering up unsound 
societies by contributions from landowners and others. It 
would also receive the powerful support of the guardians. 
It would be a safeguard against the establishment of new and 
fraudulent clubs, whose managers, concealed and at a distance, 
may be compared to the fowler who catches the birds in his evil 
net. It would prevent the formation of new clubs. For the 
same answer which is now given to the proposal to establish a 
savings bank of the old style would be made to the promoters 
of new societies. They would be referred to the nearest post 
office. And it is, lastly, no unreasonable anticipation that a fair 
percentage of our best and steadiest young labourers would, as 
in the case of the Kent Friendly Society, avail themselves of 
