NATIONAL INSURANCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 26

NATIONAL INSURANCE

LONDON, October 17.

Speaking at Hartlepool, Mr Snowden, Labour M.P., sarid he regretted Mr Lloyd George's unstatesmanlike way of dealing with criticisms of his "Insurance Bill. The critics were not hostile thereto, but quite as anxious to ameliorate the sufferings of the working classes as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. If the bill were really as Mr George described it, then even the extremest Socialist would be enthusiastic over it

Speaking at the Women's Institute, Mrs W, P. Reeves said that married women will have to economise in the family's food to enable the husbands to pay the insurance contributions under the Government bill.

October 20.

It is officially stated that a complete arrangement has been reached between Mr Lloyd George and the friendly societies, the Chancellor promising to meet the points raised at the Edinburgh conference. The amendments include provision whereby the smaller societies may insure each other, also provision for reduced contributions by masters and men when the employers pay the employees for the first six weeks' sickness or disablement!

With the view to passing the bill in 1911 the Government next week will move a closure resolution, and ask the House to refer the unemployment part of the bill to a grand committee.

October 23

Mo- Wright, a director of the Manchester Unity, paresiding at a conference of friendly societies at Chester, said that the Government's statement as to agreement on the Insurance Bill was a little premature, as no arrangement had been reached.