THE SOCIALISTS AND THE INSURANCE BILL.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14110, 1 August 1911, Page 6

THE SOCIALISTS AND THE INSURANCE BILL.

•Socialism displays itself in a decidedly unattractive light in its opposition to Mr Lloyd George's National Insurance Bill. According to a cable message we publish this morning, Mr chairman of. the Independent Labour Party, regards this great scheme as "moagre, pettifogging, and ineffective," presumably because the whole cost is not borno by the State. Under the Bill the employer is to pay 3d a Week, che workman 4d (in the case Of a woman it is 3d), and the State 2d. That is to say, the workman is asked to pay less than half the cost, and he knows he is subscribing to a fund that is absolutely safe, because it is guaranteed by the State. Indeed, time may show that the amounts paid by tho three contributing parties aro not sufficient for the requirements of the scheme, in which case, we take it, the State would havo to provide tiio necessary balance. Tho Socialists, who apparently want the. whole burden placed on tho taxpayer, ignore the teaching of history that men aro demoralised when they are systematically assisted without being required to assist themselves directly. Mr George LansburyV gibe at Mr Lloyd George as one who professed to love the people, but "at the ;< same time was tumbling himself "to say© the pockets of the rich," is especially ungenerous. We have no love for some of Mr Lloyd George's methods, but a more ardent advocate of the rights and welfare of the "masses" never took the .platform in the Old Country. "His legislative career proves that Mr Lansbury is incapable of seeing beyond his own red tie. No doubt before long the Chancellor will reach the depths of infamy in which Mr John Burns lies, and be known as "the right hon. renegade." •