The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, February 19, 1943. BRITAIN AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, February 19, 1943. BRITAIN AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

The British War Cabinet, knowing that the Labour Party, and probably other interests, are very dissatisfied, has nevertheless decided to reaffirm its attitude towards the Beveridge plan of social security. Its attitude, defined by the Home Minister, Sir John Anderson, is that the main features of the plan arc not all equally acceptable, and that for perhaps a long time there cannot be finality. The cost is given as the primary obstacle. The Government, looking ahead for no less than a gcncraticn, considers the taxpayers would then be finding £l6O millions more annually than at the outset if the scheme , were implemented, and that the charge would later be still greater. The Government holds that social insurance must come first, other proposed social services being secondary, to education, housing, reading, 'and afforestation. ill addition to insurance, however, it is favourable to a medical service and an allowance for children, but without making the former universally compulsory, while agreeable to find meals for children at schools, affording 2s (id per capita weekly for the purpose as against Is proposed in the plan. On the other hand, the Government would offer ss, not 8s weekly per child as 'a family allowance, so that the net result would be loss for the children. The indications arc that the Government is anxious lest interests which would not be beneficiaries, but which are being meantime plucked “no end” with taxes to make war. should rebel at larger taxation for the peacetime social purposes. Those interests are mostly supporters of the Conservative Party, and look to that party to limit social service costs. There is a moral certainty that insurance benefits and medical

' service will, be established, but not I that the other main elements of the scheme will be' made a reality immediately. The owning classes are naturally anxious that finance shall be simultaneously available for ,a restoration, of export trading. AVithout doubt, the British people must seriously ponder their post-war economic I outlook. Revenue from oversea investments, fallen greatly as it had before the war, will be much less after the Avar. Dominions will supply far more of their own manufactures. Losses in the Par East, India, and elsewhere may not be made good, and substitute sources of income must be found. Britain must bargain to support herself in a greater degree by her own agriculture. These conditions doubtless give the War Cabinet reason for hesitation, but it h'as at the same time to consider the alternative of inadequate provision for the social security of the proletariat. It is on the proletariat that the war effort has depended and continues to depend. Greater security is held up as one justification for the ivar effort. In the field, moreover, there -are rivals to the British industrial system which,, in theory at least, appeal, to the mind of the proletariat, such as socialisation. The Labour Party, in demanding a definite committal to the Beveridge plan immediately, has in mind that rival idea of collectivism, though it is still no doubt, as ready as it traditionally has been to compromise lon what it regards as a Avorkabh and bearable alternative, ivith the hope that yet another instalment of socialistic economy will later •be obtainable. The capitalists, on their part will expect some quid pro quo for contributing to social security. They will want the proletariat put under an obligation to give service on -a class basis, and a basis payable for industrialism, so that insurance will be one important thing, and an item liable' to dwindle during stoppages of production, whether voluntary or involuntary. This, however, is doubtless one of the < isnues whifeh, like finance,,, the Government expects to come up . later rather than sooner. But, 1 from the experience of their own , and other countries in the mat- J

ter of maintaining general living standards, it will be prudent for the British Government not to precipitate disappointment and discontent by too great hesitation. .It intends to find a way of giving maximum security under capitalistic industrialism. It aannot afford to lose much time in the search for that way.