On the History and Tendency of Past Legislation with reference to Friendly Societies

Abstract

In 1793 the first Act “for the encouragement of Friendly Societies” was passed, and its preamble gave as the reason for passing it, that the encouragement of such societies was likely to be attended with very beneficial results, “by promoting the happiness of individuals, and at the same time diminishing the public burdens”. The encouragement given by the State consisted of exemptions from fees and stamps, facilities in recovering debts and settling disputes, and exemption of members from removal under the Poor Law until they became actually chargeable to the parish. The next Act of any consequence was that of 1819. Another Act had become needed. Since the passing of the former Act the population had increast from 9,000,000 to 11,500,000, but the amount annually expended in poor-law relief had risen to more than £7,500,000—within half a million of the amount annually expended now with nearly a doubled population. In other words, while since 1750 the population had increast by one half, the amount of poor-law relief had increast tenfold, or twenty times as fast as population.