VILLAGE CLUBS.
(To THE EDITOR or. THE " SPOSTATOIC"1 &s,—Your correspondent "F. W.' writes an interesting letter about a certain working men's. club. But a very long time ago there were working men's clubs, and in course of time many lessons have been learnt about them. "F. W.'s" club seems to me to be a charity affair and also a Pussyfoot affair. Now I had a large experience of working_ men's clubs years ago, and even then the following principles emerged: (1) They can never be permanently successful unless they belong to the working men. themselves, under the conditions enumerated below. (2) They can never be permanently successful unless a limited quantity- of beer is allowed to the members, under the restrictions given below. (3) Good food, tea and coffee must also be provided, at a moderate cost.
The conditions concerning No. 1 are as follows: (1) Trustees should be appointed at a general meeting, to hold the .club in trust for the members. (2) The trustees should have the sole power of appointing the caretaker, on whom the carrying out of the rules (especially the one relating to the ooneumptlon of beer) depends.
The conditions regarding No. 2--are as follows: (1) Only a limited number of glasses of beer in the day should be allowed to each member. (9) The dub should be placed under the supervision of the Excise; the consequence being that the following rules will have to be made: (a) The ceepmittee shall not enter into any bond or agreement binding the club to purchase exciseablee from any person or persons, or in any way to part with its absolute control and that of the club members over the supply of exoiseable artiolee to the club (2 Ed. 7, 28, sub-see. h). (b) The secretary shall in the month of January in each year supply the Clerk of the Justices with a return, giving the particulars required by Section 25 of 2 Ed. 7, cap. 28.
Besides the above regulations it is of advantage to register the club under the Friendly Societies Act of /875. This neces- sitates, among other things, the keeping of and auditing, of accounts and the sending of an annual report to the Chief Registrar. It is also good to affiliate it with the Working Men's Club and Institute Union, Limited, whose advice in framing rules will be found invaluable, besides the advantage of a reciprooity of privileges. The union will also act as referee: in case of a dispute arising between the club and any of its members. Founded on these principles, the members will take a deep and lasting interest in the club, as being their own property; the club will rival the public-house, with- out losing its own. reputation•; and provided an adequate though small subscription be decided on, the club will be self- supporting, with one exception—namely, the salary of the caretaker. It is essential that this should be a sufficient ens and should be paid by or through the trustees. Much depends on the tact and good management of the caretaker. He must know when to be strict and when to be easy. The men should be allowed to thrash• things out thoroughly themselves, but at the same time they want some outside influence to prevent them being carried away by some great talker.—I am, Sir, &c., LATICIIIER.
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