§ LORD BEAUMONT, in moving the Second Reading of the Friendly Societies Bill, expressed his regret that it should have come into the House at this late period of the Session; but, as their Lordships had had the opportunity on an antecedent occasion of discussing the subject, and as the most minute attention had been given in the other House to all the details of the measure, he hoped their Lordships would waive that objection. It was most important to avoid delay; for the principles upon which friendly societies were conducted, both in England and Ireland, were most anomalous, and required a speedy remedy. The amount of money invested in these societies, and the number of their members, were very large, and showed the great importance of the subject. According to a summary he held in his hand, there were actually 3,050,000 persons, or almost one to two of the whole adult male population. The annual revenue amounted to 4,985,000l., and the accumulated fund to 11,360,000l. The Bill introduced many improvements in the present law, and also made provisions with respect to the mode of conducting these societies, which he believed to be perfectly safe, as far as they went; and he thought they went as far as it would be safe to go. It was most important that the Bill should now pass forthwith; for if it were not at once to become law, there would be time for incalculable evils to arise before the Legislature could have again the opportunity of interposing to prevent them. Friendly societies were divided by the Bill into two classes, namely, registered societies and certified societies. The only power given to the former was the right to sue and be sued. This was necessary to prevent embezzlement of the funds by officers, or the withholding the sums due to rightful claimants. The Odd Fellows, the Foresters, &c. would be registered societies, as their tables could not be certified by an actuary; 1018 but he must, in justice to them, say, that they had taken great pains to have their tables based on sound calculations, since the report of their Lordships on the subject. The noble Lord concluded by moving the second reading of the Bill.
§ LORD REDESDALEwas extremely sorry the Bill had come before their Lordships so late in the Session, as it introduced a new principle into the management of friendly societies which ought to have been fully and maturely considered. To some of the details he objected; and he trusted their Lordships would pause before they assented to all of them, because it was quite possible that these societies might change their character and become converted from provident institutions into others of an objectionable, not to say dangerous, nature. He would not object to the second reading of the Bill; but he recommended that they should strike out all the clauses in which distinctions were drawn between registered and certificated societies. He hoped also that means would be adopted to get rid of secret signs in these societies.
§ LORD MONTEAGLEhoped the Bill would pass; there was much force in the objections which could be urged against some of its provisions. He should be very glad if the evils of the burial clubs, which had led to the spread of child murder to such a horrible extent, would be got rid of by some of the enactments of the Bill.
§ LORD BEAUMONTwould not pledge himself to make the alteration suggested, but consented to give notice for To-morrow, of a suspension of the Standing Orders, in order that the question might be considered in time to obtain the consent of the Commons, should the alteration be made.
§ Bill read 2a.