THE INSURANCE ACT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12816, 16 July 1912, Page 5

THE INSURANCE ACT.

ATTITUDE OF SOME WORKERS

THE BLACK FLAG HOISTED

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph.— Copyright.) (Received July 16, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 15. Twelve thousand Liverpool dock workters have struck as a protest against the inauguration of a clearing-house scheme to facilitate the collection of insurance contributions. (Received July 16, 10.45 a.m.) "• LONDON, July 15. Several thousand opponents of the Insurance Act assembled m Finsbury Circus. The speakers denounced the measure, a copy of which was afterwards soaked m oil and publicly fruirned. Several business places hoisted the black flag. .

Amid all the talk of Insurance Act' muddle, Mr Harold Spender, m the Daily News, says that at any rate the following will surely Tiappen. "On July 15 next four things will happen. First, the State will become liable to contribute 2d a week towards the medical care of some 14,000,000 employed persons m this country between the £ges of 16 and 70, and with incomes below £160 a year. Second, every employer will become liable to contribute 3d a week towards the medical care of every employed person m his service who comes under the Bill. Third, every employed person earning over lsa a week, unless exempt either wholly or partly, will become liable to pay, if a man, 4d a week, and if a womah 3d, $ither to a friendly society or to ..the post office as a contribution towards their insurance. Fourth, the sanatoria benefit will' immediately come into operation, and the State will be faced with new duties of care and healing towards every; poor consumptive person. So far for the first six months — from Jujy- to December, 1912. Then, on January 1, 1913j will open the period of benefit. After that date all employed penona contributing -will have earned, the right : To a sick benefit of 10s a week for men and 7s 6d for women; to free medical benefit ; . to invalidity benefit of Ss a week, and to a maternity benefit of 305.: