The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-16 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR OF

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES IN ENGLAND.

This morning was issued Mr. Tidd Pratt'a report,
dated July 16 of the present year ;
During the year 1863 the registrar has examined and
certified the rules of 1,054 friendly societies, and also the
alterationa of the rules of 1,231 societies ; making a total
of 2,245 osrtigostsa Twenty-three friendly societies have
deposited their roles with the registrar under the 18 and 19
Pict., o. 63, s. 44. Notice of diasolutice have been received
from 118 friendly societies ; of which number 47 were ad-
vertised in the London Gazdte. During the year 1863 the
sum of 1,1501. in the Bank of England, has been transferred
by the registrar into the names of trustees appointed
by friendly societies, in the places of others removed,
absent, _ .

The registrar gives in the report the leading features of
the most recent tables of observation as to the expenses
of sickness and mortality in benefit clubs or friendly mode.
ties. "It must be admitted," he says, " that amongst the
20,000 societies some are certainly insolvent ; bat, ee a
general rule, this result may be attributed to the igno-
rance of the managers of the real risks to which they stand
liable until the inadequacy of the funds la forced upon their
notice by the gradually increasing claims. It does not at
all follow that the clubs are reduced to this condition by
fraudulent intention. On the contrary, it may be gathered
from the registrar's reports since 1855 that there is a very
earnest desire amongst the managers or members to weer.
fain their real condition, and to avail themselves of such
legal privileges as are offered to them to better their con-
dition. A glance at the steadily increasing number of the
rules and alterations of rake, examined and certified by the
registrar, is sufficient to strengthen this conviction. Even
the increasing number of notices of dissolution is not to be
looked upon as an unhealthy state of affairs. On the
ooetrary, the dissolution of a society is frequently effected
with a view of remodelling and starting afresh under better
regulations, and with rate* of premium such as increased
knowledge has shown to be necessary for the risks which
they have to incur. It is to be regretted that so many con-
tinually break up, and that so many more may have to
do so before the whole status of these societies can be con-
sidered sound and wholesome. Bat, for many years past,
the enlightened legislation on this subject, and the general
good seine of the managers themselves, have been effecting
a silent though perceptible improvement throughout the
country." _ .

-
Mr. Pratt gives as the principal mum* of failure, the small
number of members, inadequate premiums, the ignorance
of the members of the extent to which the surplus of pre-
minne ought to be accumulated in early years to meet the
requirements of advanced age, the difficulty of distinguish-
ing at ages above 60 between superannuation and true sick-
ness, the very deplorable prattle, of holding the monthly
or other periodical meetings in public houses and under the
influence of the publican, injudicious and speculative invest-
ments, and the combination of the different risks in a
common fund. " If." says Mr. Pratt, "the effect'
of government competition, under the late act paned for
granting annuities or payments at death, is to make all
doubtful societies look into their affairs, to amend all that
may be going IrTORIE, and to see that to all their other
advantages they can add a security which, by good manage-
ment, 'scientific skill, and strict honour, may, as io the
ammo of many of our existing institutions, be little short
of what government can offer, then no harm, but a vast
amount of good will result from the government proposi-
tion. But it would he sad, indeed, if instead of improving
and set►ing on • firm foundation the present friendly
societies, it simply destroyed them in detail. The great
antiquity of these fluids for self-help is a proof that they
meet the spirit of this people in every age. The changes
that have of late years followed a more enlightened legis.
lation, evidence their desire to keep pace with the growing
intelligence of the country. The meetings of the members,

when Cooducted in some room of their own, and away
from the inffuenos of the public-home, encourage that
spirit of self-relianoe and of participation in public buai-
DIU, and in the management of his own affairs, which
the working man has a right to in common with the
highest clams in the lend. And Busily, the good feelings
which in the country bring forth the clergy and
gentry, and the manufacturers and employers of labour in
towns, to aid with their judgment and advice, but without
injudicious interference, the efforts of the working man to

better bis condition, and, by self-denial iu the present, to
look forward in the future not merely to a provision for
himself, but for his wife and children after him, form a
bond of union which has happily united all classes in this
kingdom, and made these friendly moieties a medium of
kindly sentiments, of generous sympathy, and of mutual
respect, which would render the total destruction of them,
whether by accident or design, a public calamity to this
country."
The registrar receives almost daily complaints, by and
on behalf of the members of friendly societies, respecting
the compulsory payments for beer and for anniversary
expenses. Considerable difficulty appears to exist in ob-
taining the payments due for sickness, or on the death of a
member or member's wife, where the parties have joined
friendly societies through the means of agents ; complaints
are also made as to the misapplication of the funds, and
the manner in which societies are dissolved ; and in order
to make farther provisions for settling disputes, preventing
misapplication of f nods, the furnishing yearly statements, and
to enable, if poesible, the industrious classes to insure with
safety against sickness, and for a payment at death of sums
under 204, it is suggested that a committee should be
appointed in the next session, to take these matters into
consideration.

THE ITALIAN OPERA AT PARIS. —The progamme
of the Italians for the seise° is published. Besides eight
of the chef-d',encres of Rossini, eight of Donizetti, four of
Verdi, and the three masterpieces of Bellini, we are to
have Don Giovanni. the Giureinenlii. 11 Matrinionto
&ore°. Marta, and Prince Poniatowski'" Don Disidirio.
Five new operas are also announced. Fairs del Dalin°
by Verdi, Leonora by Mercadaote, Dun Burefaa by
Cagnoni,Crispino et la Comare by Ricci, and the Duchene
di Sam Guiliano by Grafton. The season promises to
be a brilliant one. It is to commence on Ist October with
the Sonnanaula, to be followed by a ballet very popular in
Italy, called Aei e Galatea, in which will appear Mdlles.
Urban and Wm:de, sod M. Costa, who is to be chord.
graphic director in this theatre. The ballet is quite so in.
novation at the Italians, sad it is said that M. Hairier is
getting up his Terpsichorean arrangements with nor dial
can arid taste. Mdllee. Patti and the two !Ramillies, with
Frasebiui, Corsi, Delle•Sedie, Naudie, and Scale's, are to
open the season in Paris, and later. Pence, Sprain. Mi:ric-
Lablache. Nicolini, Aldighieri, and Zucchini.-oabrmani.
THE EARLY DAYS OF THE BRITISH A i•;OI.IATION.
When the British Awociatioo visited Bath many years
since, the geological section, ommisting of about a hundred
ladies and gentlemen, made an exconiort to inspect some
object. of intermit in the neighbourhood. Arrived at the
i spot, Professor Phillips, of Oxford, described the chief fee
tutee worthy of notice. The proceedings of the section
were altogether unintelligible to the natives, and nos bucolic
individual, who had (with many others) followed the party
to the spot, wee overheard to express his disappointment to
a friend as follows :—"Come along, Jim. the ring's broken
ap, sod there wOO% be no fight arter all The metier
were coder the impression that the visitors belonged to the
• Finny," and that a prizefight was in contemplation.
The trade over the Panama Railroad is rapidly
inereasisg."The employs hays but little rest, day or night,
sad Sundays do not often form any exception to the rule.
The Bret six months of 1863 the number of passengers trees.
ported over the road was short of 17,000. During the COT-
responding six months of Ibis par nearly' 5,000 were tram.
ported. There is a imerespooduis istraise also in the freight.
—American Paper.