NATIONAL INSURANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 7

NATIONAL INSURANCE.

£9,000,000 ON ESTIMATES.

ATTACK OX CHANCELLOR.

" SCHEME INSOLVENT."

OPPOSITION CHALLENGE,

By Telegtaph—Press Association—Copyright

• Received March 6, 9.10 p.m.}

London, March 6. The Estimates provide £13,141,000 for old age pensions, and almost £0,000,000 for national insurance. The Opposition heckled Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) in the House of Commons yesterday, alleging that his insurance scheme was insolvent, that the minimum benefits would have to be reduced, and that the Chancellor's refusal to give information with regard to State insurance finance showed that the Government was unprepared to meet the popular indignation.

Mr. Lloyd George, in reply, denied that his scheme of insurance was a failure, though, doubtless, some of the approved societies had been badly managed. He hoped that whatever Government was in power, it would make these bear the consequences of their maladministration.

Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the Opposition) challenged the Chancellor to direct the chief actuary to make a valuation, otherwise the country would draw its own conclusion that the Act wa-s insolvent. He held that the Government wished to conceal the Act's insolvency until a.fter the election.

- A motive to reduce the vote was negatived.