118 Farm Labourers, their Friendly Societies, and the Poor Law. 
the attention of the legislature. But there are higher reasons 
than those of a pecuniary character, to which all who are 
anxious for the welfare of their fellow-countrymen cannot be 
indifferent. Let it be remembered that mutual sympathy and 
goodwill between the classes commonly called the ratepayers 
and the poor are greatly weakened by the present system of 
collecting and dispensing the funds of the rate : that to such a 
depth of moral and social degradation have the farm labourers 
of this country commonly fallen that very few of them can be 
prevailed upon, where they have the opportunity, to set about 
the task of providing for themselves, and still less for their 
relations : that all is squandered in reliance on provision from 
the rate : that, lastly, the injury is by no means confined to the 
farm labourers, but is shared more or less by all. Nor must it 
be forgotten that the really poor and destitute are to be included 
among those who are thus injured, for in consequence of the 
embarrassing position taken by the pauper labourer, they often- 
times receive less consideration and assistance than they merit. 
The infirm and helpless among the strictly poor claim more 
attention. These, with the waifs and strays of the human race, 
who are houseless and homeless, who are destitute and afflicted^ 
constitute the proper subjects of the Poor Law. But that the 
farm labourer, who has a comfortable home, a settled occupation, 
sufficient wages to support him sick or well, should arrest and 
apply to his own use funds raised for the miserable, is a reproach 
not only to him but to the legislation which does not teach him 
better. 
There are other points affecting the condition of the labourer 
to which allusion can only here be made. In addition to the 
improvement of the cottage, its occupant should be as secure in 
possession as any other house-tenant. The education of the 
labourer, and the best way to give it, the wages and food, are 
questions of great importance. But, second to religion alone, 
and before all others, come those which we have endeavoured, 
however imperfectly, to deal with in these pages — the bearing of 
the Poor Law, and the friendly societies of the labourer. Let 
him be encouraged to form habits of self-reliance ; let him 
clearly see the way by which he may secure his independence 
without any danger of his savings being made to benefit the 
ratepayers and not himself; let not his social and domestic 
relation be disturbed without urgent cause. He will then begin 
to improve, and, by prudence and industry, will be enabled to 
spend his days on the spot which is endeared to him by early 
and intimate associations, and by the ties of family : in lieu of 
submitting to the dreary reality of being parted from home, and 
wife and children, in his old age, and dragging out an enfeebled 
