have gratuitously a copy of the last annual return. The last balance-sheet, auditor's report, and quinquennial return has to be 'always hung up in a conspicuous place at the registered office.' of societies. The privileges of the societies are, amongst others, that they Privileges may hold land in the names of their trustees; that they are exempt from stamp duty; that they have priority of claim in respect of money or property belonging to them in the possession of an officer by virtue of his office; and that a member of a friendly society who is 16 years of age can nominate a husband, wife, father, mother, child, brother, sister, nephew, or niece, or any other person who is not an officer or servant of the society, to receive on his death monies due to him not exceeding £100 by authorisation sent to the registered office; and that in the event of a member of a society entitled to a sum not exceeding £100 dying without having made a nomination and intestate, the sum shall be payable without letters of administration to the person who appears to the majority of the trustees upon such evidence as they may deem satisfactory to be entitled by law to receive it. Persons above the age of 16 and less than 21 may enjoy all the rights of a member, execute instruments and give acquittances, but they cannot be members of the committee. of management, trustees, managers, or treasurers. Societies consisting wholly of members of any age under 21, or exceeding these years, are allowed to register under special regulations. Members may obtain certificates of birth, death, &c., at 1s., paying 6d. for subsequent copies. The society may subscribe to any hospital, infirmary, charitable, or provident institution, which may be necessary to secure to members and their families the benefit' of such institutions-a proviso useful for the extension of medical benefits to the families of members. These benefits are now generally confined to members who pay a certain contribution for the services of the club doctor. By the dispensary system, which the Metropolitan Provident Medical Association is creating, similar benefits will be available both for members and their families. of friendly Societies have to invest in post-office savings banks, or in Investment any savings bank certified under the Act of 1863; in the public societies. funds, with the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt; in the purchase of land and erection of buildings; and in any other security expressly directed by the rules of the society, not being personal security, except as hereinafter authorised with respect to loans. members of friendly With regard to loans to members, not more than one-half of Loans to the amount of an assurance on the life of a member of at least one full year's standing may be advanced to him, on the written societies. security of himself and two satisfactory securities for repayment. The societies may have separate loan funds formed of the contributions and deposits of members. They may then make loans to Insurances of children, &c. Pauper lunatics benefit members of Friendly Societies; claims on their allowances by Guardians. members on their personal security, with or without sureties, according to the society's rules. But (amongst other restrictions) the loan cannot be made out of money contributed for other purposes. No member can hold any interest in a loan fund exceeding £200. No loan without security may, together with monies owing by the member, exceed £50. Officers have to give security if required by the rules. For the purpose of legal proceedings, a society is represented by the trustees, and in some instances the officers. Members, or persons claiming through members, are not entitled to receive more than £200 by way of gross sum, together with any bonuses or additions declared upon assurances not exceeding that amount, or (excepting in the case of societies established before 1850, in which a larger sum could be claimed), more than £50 a year from any one or more such societies. Societies may not insure, or pay on the death of a child under five years of age, any sum of money, which added to the amount payable on the death of such child by any other society exceeds £6. Nor may they insure or pay on the death of a child under 10 years of age, any sum, which, with similar additions, exceeds £10. The sum has to be paid to the parent or his representative, on the production of a certificate of death in a prescribed form. If a pauper or pauper lunatic, having a wife or other relative dependent upon him for maintenance, may be entitled to receive moneys as a member of any friendly or benefit society, such moneys shall, subject to any deductions for keeping up his membership, be paid or applied by the trustees, committee, or officers of the society, to or for the maintenance of such wife or relative. If a pauper or pauper lunatic, having no wife or relative dependent on him, is so entitled, no claim shall be made on the society by the Guardians, unless and until' they or their relieving officer shall have declared the relief to be given on loan, and shall have, within thirty days thereof, notified the same in writing to the secretary or trustees of the society or branch of which the pauper or pauper lunatic is a member.'* LXIX.-APPLICATIONS FROM JEWS, FOREIGNERS, NATIVES OF ASIA, ETC. Applications are often received from foreigners. Last year there was in the east of London a notorious case of certain Syrians, who stated that they started from the neighbourhood of Mount Lebanon, with the intention of going to Brazil. There are many such Syrian emigrants, who live by, amongst other means, begging and selling 'trinkets and beads from Jerusalem and Bethlehem.' This party said that on their arrival in London they were told that the destination of their ship was altered; a part of their fare was * 42 Vict., c. 12, amending 39 & 40 Vict., c. 61, s. 23. returned to them and they were landed. Their first misadventure was to be robbed of their money by a lodging house-keeper. Afterwards an Afghan, with whom they became acquainted, wrote begging letters for them, petitions which they carried about; and took them to the Thames Police Court, the Mansion House, several of the foreign embassies, charitable agencies, and private persons, connected with or interested in Syria.' Then they took to begging in the streets, were brought before the magistrates, cautioned frequently, and at last put in prison. This did not deter them, however; they became more cautious, and obtained hawkers' licenses.' Eventually they raised enough money to pay their way to America. In the endeavours to help the case there was continual overlapping. Foreign consuls, police magistrates, a religious sisterhood, a stranger's rest, and many private persons gave money and money's worth. Two most important charitable agencies, Dr. Barnardo and the Society of Friends of Foreigners in Distress, were simultaneously endeavouring to deal with the case. Neither knew the other was at work. Both failed to do anything.' Early in the progress of the case, 'two Charity Organisation Committees in whose districts the Syrians successively resided were applied to, but declined, almost primâ facie, to have anything to do with such applicants, probably assuming that the Poor Law would be sure to deal with them.'* Other cases of foreigners raise similar difficulties and perhaps pass through similar stages. The need of suitable centres of reference for dealing with them is evident. Applications from Jews it is well to refer in all cases to the Jewish Board of Guardians. Foreigners should be referred to the societies for helping members of their nationality. If there be no such society, application should be made to the consul, and his advice requested. In some instances the following provisions may be found of service. EastIndians. In the case of Lascars or other natives of the territories under Lascars and the Government of the Council of India, who are found destitute in the United Kingdom, and relieved by Poor Law Guardians, notice may be sent to the Secretary of that Council, stating the name of the person, the presidency or district of which he professes to be a native, the ship in which he came, and the port and time of his arrival. The moneys expended in relief will then be repaid.† natives of Another Act refers to the native of any country in Asia, Africa, Seamen; or of any of the islands in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, or of other country not having any consul in the United Kingdom, who &c. *See Charity Organisation Review, Vol. IV., p. 308 (1888). any Asia, Africa. † Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, Amendment Act (18 & 19 Vict. c. 91), s. 22 (1855). 'Tests' and inquiry. is brought to the United Kingdom in any ship, British or foreign, LXX. EXCEPTIONAL DISTRESS. The following suggestions were formulated by a Special Committee in 1886, and may be found useful in times of emergency. SUGGESTIONS AND SUGGESTED RULES FOR DEALING WITH I. GENERAL POLICY OF RELIEF. It has now been repeatedly proved that the only way to meet wide-spread and exceptional distress, without doing permanent injury to the mass of the poor, is to adhere to certain general principles and fixed lines of action which they will readily understand. Indecision and vacillation at such a time produce grave mischief.† The creation of a large relief fund tends to occasion additional difficulties and perplexities. Confusion and waste can only be avoided by taking careful measures for the administration of relief beforehand, quietly and without panic. To deal with large numbers of people quickly and effectually 'tests' are necessary, no less than inquiry. * 17 & 18 Vict. c. 120, s. 16 (1854). Glen's 'Statutes relating to the Poor Laws,' p. 1065. On the best means of dealing with Exceptional Distress; the report of a Special Committee of the Charity Organisation Society, 1886.' Much evidence on the subject, and particulars regarding the agencies and methods of relief, &c., will be found in the Report. In a time of commercial embarrassment' an ill-regulated distribution of charitable donations may not only fail to relieve the class for whose benefit the funds were collected, but further diminish the resources they would otherwise have obtained by their own exertions.'—Dr. Kay, Third Annual Report of the Poor Law Commissioners. 'It is the stoutest, not the kindest, heart that is wanted' in times of scarcity or unusual stagnation'; and all we have to do is to weather the storm as well as we are able, taking additional care to be vigilant and strict in keeping all members of the community within the bounds of duty.'-Quoted by Mr. Longley in his Report to the Local Government Board on Poor Law Administration in London,' 1874. Roughly speaking, applications come from three classes: (1) Thrifty and careful men ; (2) Men of different grades of respectability, with a decent home; (3) The idle, loafing class, or those brought low by drink or vice. To the first of these, relief should be given; but if public works are opened they should be recommended to take such work, not as a test, but as temporary employment. To the second class (according to the character of the case) relief should be offered (1) conditionally on employment in public or other works; or (2) the applicant should be referred to the Poor Law labour-yard; or (3) admitted to the workhouse, while the wife and family are supported by charitable relief outside. The third class should be left to the Poor Law. Relief by way of alms only maintains them in their evil habits, discourages the thrifty and striving, and leads to still further neglect of wife and family. Classes requiring relief. charitable 'works.' Public works should not be undertaken unless there is clear Public and evidence that the want of employment is so great that some such temporary measures are absolutely necessary to prevent better-class working men from living in semi-starvation. Their tendency must be to keep labour in the same grooves. If the distress is occasioned by some temporary and definite cause, after a short period there will be an improvement in the labour market. If the distress is occasioned by deeper and more permanent causes, public works will act merely as a palliative which may divert attention from the source of the evil and tend to become as chronic as the shortness of work. If public or other works are opened— (1) Men should only be admitted to them after inquiry or on satisfactory recommendation. (2) The wages and the hours should be as nearly as possible according to contract rates. (3) Care should be taken to supply sufficient overlookers, and to group the men according to character and ability. (4) If a meal is wanted, or clothing, it is better that this should be supplied separately from a relief fund. The employment should be given, as far as possible, in accordance with ordinary business contracts, and not as 'charity work,' which tends to be as ill-done as it is ill-paid, and to degrade men instead of improving them. (5) Public and other relief works should be of a local character, planned according to estimates drawn by the local authorities, and conducted under local superintendence. This will be some |