Days With Departments.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12800, 25 May 1914, Page 5

Days With Departments.

THE NATIONAL PROVIDENT ACT. WHY IT WAS BORN. A CABINET CAUCUS. The Chief: "Gentlemen, I am i afraid wo are going to get into a fix ; unless we do something to convince 'the Labour people that we are looking after their interests. That Australian Labour Ministry muHt have gonet mad, for they are offering a bonus of £5 for each birth, legitimate or otherwise. We cannot possibly do that unless we can borrow some money and the market is rather tight, besides which we shall want all we can command for we have to face a general election soon. Then again we have the Friendly Societies bothering for a subvention to their funds." A Member: "On what grounds do they ask for a subsidy?" The Chief: "Oh, they point out that it is desirable to lower the medical examination test of candidates so that the area of their operations may be widened. They naturally cannot do this unless they receive a subsidy to guard them against possiblo loss. They claim, quite soundly, that they relievo the State very considerably because they provide for relief of distress, the cost of sickness, and confer various other benefits on their members. It is unquestionable that if they did not exist, the expenditure on charitable aid would be very much greater.''

A Member: "Well, we can get over both these difficulties. We can induce the workers themselves to supply the necessary funds. Instead of giviug a maternity bonus of £5 in every case, like Australia is doing, we can go one better. We can offer them up to £6, and pay it out of their own money. We can also shut up the Friendly Societies by offering to pay for 'incapacity.' We needn't say what 'incapacity' means, and the restrictions wo can provide will save us spending money for this purpose, even though we should have plenty of the workers' money in hand. We can also arrange it that the payment shall not be made because the individual is incapacitated, but only if the individual has a child. If we can induce the single people or the childless to contribute, you can see that we would never have to spend anything upon them."

Another Member: "A most brilliant idea. You have saved the situation. We can obtain a splendid reputation—all for nothing." O

The Wily Member: "The only objection I can see is that when the people see through this scheme they may turn us out of office."

Chorus of Members: "Well, tre must hope for the beet. Let us put the idea into the form of an Act, and await results."

Other Days with Department# will include the Valuation, Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Coal Merchants, Money Lending, etc.