Superannuation and Health Insurance

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22338, 28 February 1938, Page 10

Superannuation and Health Insurance

The Prime Minister on Saturday informed members of the Labour Party, at a picnic, that a committee of the House of Representatives would hear evidence from " all persons inter- " ested in, or associated with, superannuation " systems " before legislation is proceeded with. It is not quite clear whether the committee is

to hear evidence on,superannuation only or on health insurance as well; but presumably both projects will be openecf to inquiry, since they have always been connected in the Government's programme. They haVe already been so, long on the Cabinet's work-bench that the Government might have been expected to introduce a draft bill, upon which the committee would sit and to the provisions of which the evidence heard would relate; but unless the Prime Minister spoke without picking his words very carefully, it appears that the Government is not ready even to commit itself so far. Mr Savage spoke only of referring the " project" to the committee, which would analyse " the whole information " collected by the Government and take evidence, furnishing its report in time for the law draftsman " to " prepare the legislation for the last session of " the present Parliament." It is impossible not to conclude that the Government has found the difficulties in its way much more formidable on a near view than they looked before; and it was perhaps no bad idea of Mr Savage's to choose a holiday gathering of supporters for

this confession of embarrassment. But his wisest supporters will be at one with his opponents in believing that, even if it is the belated prudence of reckless men who have had a fright, it is still to be counted as prudence in the Government to set up an open inquiry before finally shaping and carrying out schemes of far-reaching social and economic effect. But if that is the Government's scrap of praise, it is ridiculously earned. How ridiculously and humiliatingly, those will best see who remember that, early in September of last year, the Prime Minister positively affirmed the Government's intention of enacting the health and insurance measure during the session then opening. What is more; he thrust aside any suggestion that the nature of the proposals cliould be made known beforehand; and the reason for this was that he was "anxious to " avoid giving cause for any useless and. abortive controversy before the details of the " scheme had been placed before the represen- " tatives of the people." The Government that was in September so sure and arrogant is now ready to ask questions and listen to the answers. It is a gain. But the Opposition may as v/ell keep both eyes open for the possibility of the Government's using this procedure and delay to contrive, in the last session, some melodramatic occasion to rush to the country with an appeal for a mandate to carry out a scheme still in its attractive swaddling clothes.