The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-05 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—Tors EvENnia.
Tho LORD CIUNCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

ED B.
Earl GRANVILLEUC askedATlONthe noble duke opposite
whether it was his intention to bring on this bill on Thurs-
day next.
The Duko of MARL BOROUGII said that he thought
that was too early a period. It would be brought on on
Thursday week.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL.
The Earl of LICHFIELD, in moving the second read-
ing of this bill, said that he would only occupy a short
time in callit, their lordships' attention to the conditions
of the bill. He stated that, iu addition to the number of
societies which were registered, there were many which
were Lot, and therefore, when ho moved for the returns of
those societies, he knew that there were many which did
not come under their lordships' notice. If ho had moved
that there should be a return of all those receiving out-
, (!o9r relief, it would be very diffieult to furnish, inasmuch
is some gu ,rdians gave oily slight relief, and others a
area C et.; tly, any teinror front a load of
g seasons woui.t th,t lit reliable, lie niusi now, however
assert that he btlieved that the condi:ions of the
of the Poor-1..w did not int.-rfere with any of the habits of
frugality of those plrsons who I.oealllo lat,llll:L.l'S of 1,11,130
societies. Ho could also a,s!rt that these societies carried.
on most extensive peratioes. the thirst clause of the
hill the prorisio, had beet purposely inisrepr -seined, but
e•Vell tiIOSLI petitions against ;ha bill caul, front three
societies. This clause was that which related to the mein-
b rs of friendly societies insuring the lives of those per-
&lns in the same house with themselves, but he Nvis pre-
pared t,, sty that this bill did not joie:lore with the
regu:atious of friendly societies, nor prevent members
front insuring the lives of their children far funeral ex-
pcuse3. Ile also could assure their lordships that provi-
sions for the admission of minors were expressly provided
fur. In other clauses it was expressly set out that mem-
bers of these societies should be able to insure their chil-
dren. Other clauses related to the transfer of one society
from another. This transfer was in many cases a great
hardship. Other conditions provided for those who found
themselves excluded by forfeiture, but provided that they
etrmild not lose the benefit of their subscriptions until due
notice had been given them. In his bill facilities were given
for redress if there was any difficulty in obtaining that
return, which the members were entitled to. The c.nise-
quence often was that a friendly society became another
class of society, and the member became, without his own
consent or knowledge, a memberof theother one. Friendly
societies did most useful work amongst the working
classes. There were such societies as the Odd Fellows
and the Forresters who numbered between them near
10,00,/ members; and he would ask how it was, with re-
gard to the petition against his bill, that these two socieleti
had not joined in, condemning it if they disapproved
of it? The societies front which these petitions came
were :igned by members who had no management over
these societies whatever. Ile found that the expenditure
of these societies exceeded their income, and he thought
that there could be nu ques ion that the society which had
not more than one year's income must be insolvent.
These societies had petitioned to be heard against the
bill, but what would be the effect of this? It would only
show the importance cf the bill. With these remarks
he should conclude that part of the attack upon it. lie
concluded with the remark that it was necessary that re-
turns relating to the expenditure, income, etc., of these
burial societies should be made, and that their lordships
should carefully look into them. A great deal of the
money of these societies was left in the hands of the col-
lectors and agents.