NATIONAL INSURANCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 27

NATIONAL INSURANCE

LONDON, October, 10. A private conference between Mr Lloyd George and representatives of the British Medical Association and the friendly societies has been held. It is understood that they arrived at .a compromise regarding the objections to the Insurance Bill. Writing to a correspondent, Mr Ramsay Maodonald, M.P., states that when the House of Commons meets the Labour party will adopt the Insurance Bill, and hr!s personal influence will be thrown into thao scale. He wanted one or two amendments, and he thought the party would get them. The party (with two or three exceptions) approved of the bill.

October 13. The National Conference of Friendly Societies, now meeting at Edinburgh, and representing a membership of four millions, rejected a proposal to urge .the Government to postpone the National Insurance Bill for a year, and resolved that, while accepting its main provisions, they demand alterations conferring eelf-govern-ment on " approved societies"' and majority representation on the Health Committees, The conference also demanded that earners of over £l6O a year should be permittxl to become voluntary subscribers without a Government subsidy. Failing these concessions, the conference recommends all societies to strenuously oppose the passage of the Bill. October 14. An actuarial investigation on behalf of the Labour party shows that the Insurance Bill, while inflicting initial loss on trades unions, will ultimately distinctly strengthen their financial position. Mr Lloyd George, ,replying to the request of the Associated Chambers of Commerce urging further delay in the Insurance Bill, stated that further postponement was not desirable. A discussion at the Edinburgh conference revealed a determination not to administer the bill unless Mr Lloyd George grants the minimum demand.

The British Medical Association is equally insistent regarding the minimum. Mr Worthington Evans, M.P., points out the great injustices to soldiers and sailors, who are unable to agitate against the 2d per week deducted from their pay, yet they do not get any sick allowance benefit while serving, and nothing is given to their wives or children. , October 15.

Addressing a meeting in this city, the Chancellor of the Exchequer -complained of a crusade of misrepresentation against the Insurance Bill. No one, he said, embarked on reforms without encountering the opposition of vested interests. Tha bill would be most pertinaciously fought through the House. It would be four years before there was another general election. This year he would fight the Insurance Bill through or fall-with it. The ball would became operative in 1912, and its benefits would be •flowing in in 1913, and growing wider by 1914. What, then, was the use of misrepresentations ? Replying to a subsequent deputation from the Women's Social and Political Union, Mr Lloyd George"'said that lie favoured women's suffrage as given in New Zealand and Australia. , October 16. Mr Lansbury, M.P., speakdng at Bradenord, said that despite Mr Lloyd George, if the Liberal, Tory, Labour, and Irish parties voted each according to its conscience,- the Insurance Bill would not have a ghost of a chance of reaching th. 9 Statute Book. .