Life and health assurance for the working classes : an answer to the question how the government may provide a comprehensive plan of life assurance for the working people of Great Britain / by William Hardwicke.

  • Hardwicke, William.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Life and health assurance for the working classes : an answer to the question how the government may provide a comprehensive plan of life assurance for the working people of Great Britain / by William Hardwicke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    any future prospective claims. These sums advanced on small policies as loans, at the rate of from Is. to Is. 6d. a day, might be granted to members who require them, for periods varying from 2 to 20 weeks; the total amount of them far exceeding the average duration of sickness in the life of a healthy man. The application ought to be accompanied with a medical certificate or other statement showing inability to earn wages. This plan is also appli- cable to any other exigency which from the bye-laws of any societies may arise. This system, besides being an equitable one, has many advantages over the old plan of providing for sickness. It is but right that each member should rely on his own merits, and it gives to each the full advantage of his own energies, his own good health, temperance, and prudence. He has likewise a constant motive before him for endeavouring to avoid accident, loss of time, and secure work. The old system oflPers no special incentives for honourable exertion, good resolutions, and self-reliance; but generates a feeling of dependence upon others, and favours the intemperate and improvident, who are, in a pecuniary sense, the gainers. Another advantage is this,—where the above-mentioned benefits are secured in a respectable office, which offers either a sum at death or an annuity beginning at 60,. it may happen that the contributors may be unable to keep up the latter payments. An investment of this character would then be looked upon by the relatives of the assured as something of considerable value, and would render them willing to undertake the responsible charge of an aged relative. How many masters would rejoice to see some faithful