SLUM SCANDAL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 2 January 1918, Page 2

SLUM SCANDAL

MR LLOYD GEORGE ON BAD HOUSING.

REFORM AFTER THE WAX

Mr Lloyd George recently received a deputation representing 12 million insured persons, which urged the establishment of the National Health Insurance Act, especially as regards women, by an Exchequer grant, and of the introduction of the promised Bill for the simplification of National Insurance. The deputation was introduced by Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., secretary of the National Union of Raihvaymen. Replying to the deputation, Mr Lloyd George said:—"The Exchequer is not in the position in the middle of a great war to make promises with regard to insurance or any other social project which it could very well make in the days of peace."

"I cannot conside^ however sympathetic I may fee.l towards the old insurance plan, which I had so much to do with launching—l cannot consider this demand except in view of the other demand of an unexampled character which has been made on the resources of this country. The drain upon our resources is unparalleled, and we are not at the end of that charge upon the national wealth.

''I wish I could predict that we would soon see the end of it, but whatever happens the task which the nation has taken in hand must be accomplished. (Applause.) Otherwise not merely the power and the prestige of this nation is broken, but its future is a pretty hopeless one." RESOURCES MUST BE HUSBANDED

We must husband our resources, the Premier declared, and incur no obligations beyond the strictest and sternest necessities of the hour and when demands are put forward for improvements here and there my answer will be "Concentrate on victory. When it is won all other things wil lbe added unto you." Therefore the answer which I am going to give you is the answer, which I have got to give to all demands for pecuniary assistance fro mthe. Exchequer at thi3 stage. It is a provisional answer, one which is not merely liable to reconsideration, but which must be reconsidered when victory has been won. For the moment every claim upon the Exchequer must be. considered in the light of the terrible possibility of the moment in respect to th.c war. When the war is over we can then in a freer and happier atmosphere begin to reconstruct, ;«fc«iM ; >*ul rr> generate

The Health Bill, he pointed out, was one of those very attractive proposals which led to endless controversy. However urgent it might be, they could not altogether introduce things of that kind' in the middle of a great war. "Yo;i have got," he continued, "to repair the ravages of the war." DRASTIC REFORM OF HEALTH LAWS. ,"He was certain, that in one form .or another they must drasticai^^^^^jM the JidminTg^^^^HMflßH^^^^^^^^l