THE REV. HARRY WILSON, M.A. 321
other case ; I am myself treasurer, and the people take shares at will. The whole business is con ducted in a quiet and orderly fashion. The loans are to be obtained on good security at a lower rate of interest, and instead of the sharing out taking place immediately before Christmas, it is arranged for the end of November or the beginning of December, when the money is more likely to go in new clothes than in drink during the festive season. You may be surprised to hear that our turnover last year (1901) was ,8,000. A few weeks ago we shared out among these poor people ,3,500, the rest of the larger sum men tioned being made up of loans, made and returned."
" And you find these poor people honest as to the repayment of loans ? "
" Ah ! the engine that ensures that is public opinion. The man who does not pay up loses caste. You see, before he obtains a loan he must produce security, and he invariably calls upon three or four fellow-members of the Sharing Club for this purpose. If he does not pay up the guarantors know of it. Now, if I, personally, were to lend a sovereign, I should never get it back ; but the Sharing Club does ! "
" And what are the other features of the work at St Augustine s ? "
"In a very poor district like this we have constant calls upon our purse for the relief of the
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