which we have called up in the name of right
and justice, got the upper hand of us, and have
we no power within ourselves to lay him? It may
seem a dreadful thing to propose centralisation.
But what is to be done ? The parochial elections
are approaching. Will the ratepayers
bestir themselves, or must we be governed by a
M. Haussman, sole and irresponsible prefect of
London?

A POST-OFFICE FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

TEN years ago it would have been thought
preposterous to talk of a Post-office Friendly
Society. The notion of a Post-office Savings
Bank, entertained by a few, was an ideal as
unpractical among practical men as a Post-
office Friendly Society is at this moment—
indeed more so, for we have in the Post-office
made some steps in the direction of the friendly
society. They have been just those steps for
which the rural classes, and, indeed, the
industrial classes, care the least, but will, it is
fair to anticipate, be found of great importance
before many years elapse. But the poor
man's sheet-anchor, maintenance during illness,
coupled with a sum at death, is not yet
permitted to secure him in the storms of this life
by its hold on the Post-office. Such permission
might, and, it will not be difficult to show, ought,
if beneficial legislation is persisted in, to be
given.

First of all, the great want which the rural
poor suffer from at this time is of a good
thoroughly plain and easy system of insurance
suited to their requirements. Such a system
must be so simple in its details that it may be
without difficulty understood by the common
people. In this respect, the worst and most
immoral public-house benefit societies in
England will furnish a useful example.

Farm-labourers should have the opportunity
afforded them of investing their club payments
in securing sums during sickness, payable
weekly for a term of months, of about three-
fourths of their ordinary wages when they are
able to work. For instance, a man who earns
sixteen shillings a week should be allowed to
insure for twelve shillings during illness; and
in a locality where he cannot average more than
ten shillings, he might insure to (say) eight
shillings. We may safely leave it to his own
option to insure as much as he likes in the way
of burial-money and annuity, both these last
classes being already offered to the public — and
not, I fear, meeting with the attention they
deserve — by means of the Post-office. Now,
every country postmaster knows the common
run of farm-labourers' earnings in his
neighhourhood, and would thus assist the authorities
to fix the maximum sickness provision given at
his office. To this I add, that, from knowledge
of agency management in a large friendly
society, the ordinary village postmaster will soon
make a most efficient and trustworthy agent.

A short description of the duties of an agent
in rural-poor friendly society work will be of
use.

A paper with questions touching his age
health, and habits, and stating the amount he
wishes to secure, is given to the proposer, and, if
he can't write, is filled up for him by the agent.
Satisfactory evidence of age must also be given.
This does not, however, generally speaking,
necessitate a certificate of time of birth or of
baptism. A medical certificate cannot be
dispensed with; and if there is a doubt about the
proposer's health, special inquiry is made by
the agent. A system which refused all but
cases of at least average health would not need
the latter precaution.

Thus far the agent's work is less than that
which a proposal for burial-money would entail
upon him. Referees are required in the latter
case, but not for sickness proposals. It is
impossible to make a difficulty in accepting
such proposals, were the same powers extended
to this class as are already in force at the Post-
office for annuities and sums payable at death.
Suppose, then, the admission is granted; and
we will watch the case. The new member
continues to pay his premium in fortnightly or
monthly payments, and his annual card bears
an acknowledgment initialised by the agent.
As soon as he is obliged to claim help, his
doctor countersigns his demand, and states
what is the matter with him. The sickness-pay
is due from one week of the day of the agent's
receiving the claim, and is payable so long (within
the rules of the society) as the member is
ill. When he recovers, he " declares off the
club," as the saying is.

Such is the practical and easy way of managing
the sickness branch. The management of the
accounts presents no difficulty beyond the reach
of an ordinary village postmaster.

The advantages of such a system of friendly
societies throughout the country it would seem
difficult to overrate. Every able-bodied farm-
labourer would slowly but surely discover that,
if he pleased, he might go to the nearest Post-
office instead of the nearest public-house, and,
at a somewhat less cost in money, obtain a better
provision than the combined resources of the
sharing-out club and poor-rates put together
can give him. It is surely no extravagant
supposition to say that many of this class, who
take the lead of the rest in intelligence and
respectability, will, if they have the choice,
prefer the Post-office Friendly Society, and
that their example and influence will soon tell
more powerfully on their neighbours than all
the advice given and assistance offered by their
superiors in station to induce them to join the
few safe and well-managed clubs which are
scattered throughout the country; and thus
leaving the poor-rate unmolested, to exercise
its retarding influences upon farm-labourers
struggling for independence by self-help, a
benefit might be conferred on the rural
poor at little labour and less cost.

The collateral advantages, which under so
desirable a system would quickly follow, are,