NATIONAL INSURANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7432, 9 May 1911, Page 5

NATIONAL INSURANCE

THE BRITISH SCHEME RESCUING THE PEOPLE FRO.M GRIP OF SICKNESS. Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 7. The Chancellor of tho Exchequer, Air Lloyd George, interviewed regarding his Invalidity and Unemployment Insurance Bill, said that 30 per cent, of tho existing pauperism was due to sickness; hence if a patient could bo prevented from becoming a chronic invalid and be rescued from the griji of the poor law tho present cost of pauperism would bo largely diverted and more effectively utilised. The Bill affects 270,000 domestics in London, of which number 250,000 are females. Women workers who marry insured men shall bo allowed to rejoin tho fund upon -widowhood, even although they have reached tho age of fifty-five years. Men whose pay rises abovo 60s a •week shall bo allowed to remain members if they pay their employers’ contribution of threepence a week, in addition to their own fourpenco. Officials of Ha-rland and Wolff, the Belfast shipbuilding firm, state that Mr Lloyd George’s scheme will cost the firm £12,500 per annum. Wages must, therefore, be reduced or prices increased. The “ Spectator ” fears that sickness malingering and unemployment malingering are likely to bo stimulated by the scheme. ■WORKERS’ CONTRIBUTIONS LABOUR M.P. COMPLAINS 5 THEY ARE TOO HIGH. (Received May 8, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Air Philip Snowden, AI.P. (Labour), addressing tho workers of Blackburn (his electorate), said the contribution fixed under the Invalidity Bill, was proportionately too high. Ho complained of tho smallness of tho maintenance allowed to women, and suggested tho dropping of the unemployment section of the Bill for this year.