The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-01 00:00:00

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Mr. Tidd Pratt's report on friendly societies has
again this year to give an account of many failures.
Sixty- five societies have been dissolved in the course
of the year. The causes of such societies not being
able to meet the claims of the members are to be
found in incorrect tables for the contributions, small
number of members, insecure investment of funds,
and unnecessary expenses of management, which
actually, in some instances, take 10s. out of every
£1 subscribed. Most of these societies still hold
their meetings at publichouses, with the landlords
for treasurers; and the members are required by
the rules of the most of the old societies to spend
a monthly sum in beer " for the good of the house,"
which amount is generally taken from the box,
whether the members have or have not paid their
contributions, and in many instances the money
is not repaid to the society. In the correspond-
ence of the year it is stated in a letter to the
registrar respecting the affairs of a society, that
it has spent £1,300 of the funds " for the good of
the house." There is generally a strong party in
favour of it. One letter states that a female
friendly society will be obliged to break up
unless they are allowed to have an annual feast
and music; and an objector who is contending
with the managers against any such applica-
tion of the trust funds writes :—" I can do nothing
with them unless you assist me by sending
a very saucy letter to the stewards." Sometimes
the law is evaded by paying an extravagant rent
for the room, the excess being really allowed in
beer. In the very curious correspondence of the
year, a clergyman writes to object to the applica-
tion to old members of a new rule proposed for a
female club to the effect that any member having a
child within such a time after marriage as implies
immorality shall be expelled ; his reason being not
merely the inquisitorial character of the investiga-
tion in a society whose direction is chiefly in the
hands of some old maids, but also that "by far the
greater number of women are pregnant in this part
of the country before they are married." The regis-
trar considers it proved by 35 years' experience
that some further provisions are necessary to secure
to working men that they shall not be required to
subscribe to these societies more than is necessary,
and that they shall be certain of obtaining the bene-
fits paid for. Returns which he has obtained from
only 123 unions show that 1,150 inmates.in their
workhouses who have been members of friendly
societies which have been broken up or dis-
solved He invites suggestions in reference to the
bill laid before the House of Lords last session by
the Earl of Shelburne, proposing that a parish may
adopt a friendly society, au becribe to its funds, and
guarantee, with the security of the poor-rates, the
benefits it promises ; the parish to have the power
at any time to close the society against any more
new members. It is for the interest of the parish
that the working man should have some provision
for sickness and old age. In regard to- the distress
in the manufacturing counties, the registrar has
suggested that a rule may be agreed to by societies,
enabling a special meeting to suspend payment of
the contributions for a certain time, and, if neces-
sary, to suspend the payment of benefits also. He
has to record that, by the Act of last session, indus-
trial and providentt
is worthsocieties noticehav thatetheb he wasenefit of
limited liability. It
asked last year to certify rules imposing a penalty
on every member of a society who shall work for
any master while a dispute is being held between
the master and his men, or who shall engage to
work for an employer under the price his men are
getting

THE LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAlL-
WAY.—Yesterday Messrs, Pullen, Horne, and Co., pro-
ceeded with a further sale of nearly 20 houses, by order of
the directors of the above railway, which will be removed for
the construction of the line, which, by this sale, will be in
close proximity with the terminus adjoining the intended
bridge. The premises disposed of, one of which is a Bap-
tist chapel, are situated in Church street, Holland-street,
Blackfriars-road, &c.

THE SITE OF ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL.—It has
been determined upon the entire removal of the structure,
the late St. Thomas's Hospital, to erect upon the site of it,
in addition to the terminus of the London, Chatham, and
Dover line, which will occupy a portion of the ground, a
numbar of shops, warehouses, &c. It is stated that the
area comprises four acres, with frontages to Wellington-
street, St. Thomas-street, and James-street, and also to
the South-Eastern and London and Brighton Railway
stations. It i, not intended to take down the north wing,
which has a frontage to Wellington-street, and which is in
excellent condition, the object being to dispose of this for
warehouse,