DEATH DEFRAUDED.

Northern Advocate, 3 October 1913, Page 2

DEATH DEFRAUDED.

CHANCELLOR'S DEFENCE OF IN-

SURANCE.

ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES AT

MINERS' MEETING,

Ten thousand Notts miners followed with enthusiasm an address given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which was in the main a defence of the Insurance Act. The meeting, which was held at Sutton-in Ashfield, was frequently interrupted by suffragists, but threats to duck them in a neighbouring pond were not without a sedative effect. One of the Chancellor's most telling hits was his comment that death alone had been defrauded by the Insurance Act. The Chancellor, at the outset, said those who said Liberalism meant promises without performance might be referred to the Old-Age Pension Act, the work of the Labour Exchanges, and the hundreds of thousands who were already reaping the benefits of the Insurance Act, for which he was mainly responsible. The Tories described the Insurance Act as the most wicked Act of modern times, which robbed the people and inflicted terrible injury, and yet they had not pledged themselves to repeal it. Mr Bonar Law pledged himself, once upon a time, to abolish the Act. Poor simple-minded soul—(laughter)—he thought the intolerant partisans meant what they said. He had no notion that the abuse of the Act was a mere political device. No sooner did he utter the fateful word than his own supporters fell on him as if he were Mr Balfour himself. They wrote a retraction, put the pen in his hand, and said, "Sign your name just here, otherwise out you go." The pretended objections of the Tories to the Act were conflicting. They said too much was 'being paid, and that there was excessive sickness and malingering. He agreed that there might be men among all classes who over-coddled themselves. Half the working-classes of the country were supposed to be retired on sick allowances, but who meanwhile had been carrying on the great industries of the country? Had his audience met ANY DUKES WITH PICK IN HAND at the pit-mouth? (Laughter). Contitnuing, Mr Lloyd George said they meant to inquire into the charges of excessive claims for sickness under the Act. The old charge was that workmen would pay and get.nothing in return. The new charge was that the taxpayer -was paying, and the workman was getting too much. Both could not be true. This year the Act raised a fund of 26 millions; next year it would be 29 millions; the following year, when all the benefits would be complete, it would be 30 millions, for the purpose of helping the working classes in time of distress, sickness, infirmity, and unemployment, and to help the women of the working classes at the time when they were discharging, at the jeopardy of their lives, the most sacred function of motherhood. (Cheers.) Out of that gigantic sum the working man contributed over 11 millions, the rest was to be found by the State and , the employers. After Suffragist interruptions had been suppressed, the Chancellor said if that was a fraud all he could say was that it was a fraud of which the Tories were incapable. The Government had put forward the equivalent of 33/ for every £1 contributed by the workmen. They had npw 18,----000 doctors on the panels, as well as 9,000 chemists. Every week 500,000 workers were attended free by doctors. Every week 270;oO0 workers were receiving considerable benefits under the Act. Of these only 90,000 could have been dealt with under the old conditions, and therefore there would have been

120,000 without assistance. (Cheers and a voice, "What about the 30 "bob" (More laughter.) He would like to tell his friends, replied the right honourable gentleman, how many had received the 30 "bob" (More laughter.) It was hal: a million. (Laughter and cheers.) The country was <wsrfright. (More laughter and cheers.) Under the amending Bill now passing through Parliament the older people would receive exactly the same benefits as those who were younger. Referring to the war being waged against consumption, the Chancellor said 24,000 workmen had been treated arid. 13,000 HAD GONE TO SANATORIA whereas before the Act was passed there were only 5,000 beds available for treating these Mr Lloyd George quoted a list of cases ot successful treatment and re-m;-.iKed hi the case of one patient who r? overed, they talk of paop.e being defrauded under the Act, no one was defrauded in this instance but "death." (Vigorous cheers.) While the Insurance Act was doing the work of the Man or Nazareth it was being stoned by the Tory.party and reviled, insulted and spat upon. Concluding the Chancellor said: , "Social reform, to be thorough must be on an extended front. We have attacked the poverty" of the aged worker. (Hear, hear.) That position has been stormed. We have started our movement against sweating. Intemperance is being attacked. (Cheers.) We are now about to march against the central position, where the land monopoly is entrenched. (Great and prolonged cheering). The struggle will be a fierce one, but with your help we shall triumph, and then the road will be free to a Britain where the man who is willing to give the honest labour of brain and hands may feel assured that whatever his vicissitudes he will not be forsaken nor his seed be forced to beg their bread." (Great and continued cheering.)