NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1911, Page 5

NATIONAL INSURANCE BILL.

STILL BEFORE THE COMMONS

[PI* PBIBB ASSOCIATION—OOPTiXOBT.]

LONDON, Dec. 4

The Liberal agents in the provinces are warning the Ministerialists that the Insurance Bill is arousing hostility among their constituents. The Unionists are preparing reasonable amendments to the third reading on Wednesday. The General Federation of the Trades Unions proposes to ask the Lords to secure central administr ition and control unless the House of Commons amend the Bill in that direction. Members of the House of Commons have received 750000 protests against the Insurance Bill. The clerk class oppose the Bill and are organising on a large scale. The Saturday Review, Pall Mall Gazette and Observer urge the Unionists not to, oppose the measure. They hold that it is better that a foundation of contributory insurance be laid than a purely socialistic Bill introduced later.

The Chronicle protests at the Government allowing the House of Lords only ten days to deal with the insurance naval prize, mines, and finance Rills, whereas under the Parliament Act the power to override the Peer’s veto is operative only in the case of Rills sent to the peers at least one month before the end of the session.