An increase in the scale of contributions is' to be deprecated for many reasons, and specially because struggling men would be deterred from becoming members—and they are the men who should by every possible means be attracted. The experience of the Old Country goes to prove that a member who.ha 3 once joined a friendly society never becomes a pauper. The true policy is in dicated, and very clearly indicated, by all the statistics, whether British or Aus tralian. The true policy is to give every encouragement to youDg men to join the ranks of these societies. By this means alone can funds be accumulated before mem bers advance to later life, when the days of sickness increase. If nfembers could be in duced to join, say, at the early age of eighteen, still more if they were enrolled by their parents in childhood, the full benefits, not only of sick pay, but of pensions in old age could be obtained with a minimum scale of contributions. Mr Sutton, the actuary to the friendly societies' office, furnished tables to the Aged Poor Commission showing that a penny per week paid" from age three to age sixty-five would give, ab 3i per cent., an annuity of £ll 4s sd. "I have felt it my duty to dwell on these points because I firmly believe with Mr Brabrook, the ex perienced registrar of our friendly societies at Home, that there is no other way of providing for old age than by thrift-self denial and forethought in youth. One other suggestion I desire to submit. I refer to the desirability of extending the benefits of the friendly societies more largely to women. The necessity may possibly become less urgent through the growing sense of the duty of making better provision for widows. That is the tendency at Home, and I am sure that that sacred duty is not neglected here. It is an honorable aim of the manhood of Victoria that women should be fully provided for by the earnings and labors of their husbands and their male relatives. It will, however, be recognised that the opportunity of insuring against the contingencies of life might be of advantage for many women earniog an independent livelihood. It is satisfactory to know that the great Orders have in recent years been given their attention to thi3 subject. 