Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1912. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10406, 20 July 1912, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1912. EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE suggestions of the Socialists ace sometimes amusing. The latest is made by Mr H. G. Wells, the well known writer, who proposes labour conscription and compulsory work for all classes, “Why,” he asks, “should we not have a labour conscription, aad take a year or two’s service from everyone in the community, high or low, rich os poor, in order to cope with the vast amount of work which lies within the domain of public administration —road-making, mining, railway works, post office aad telegraph work, medical work, nnraing, building, etc. Why should we not as a community do this work ourselves. I believe this would bo of enormous benefit to our overtrained aud relasad community. ” Mr Walls suggests his proposal as a remedy for the present condition at industrial unrest. He says that the supply of good tampered cheap labour has ran out, and that its place has bean taken by a new order of workers who are reloctant, resentful, critical and suspicious. The old order, he says, having changed so radically, the wages earning class, as a distinctive order must dfsappaar., and witlr that class must dlsappoar, and with that class must also disappear, the leisure, luxury, aad affluence of the favoured community. It is desirable, Mr Wells thinks, that every class should have a practical knowledge of what labour moans. He urges statesmen to bend their energies not to getting tlse bettor of the labouring olasasa, bat to the framing of a national plan for social and political activities ” Tbe same idea as that elaborated by Mr Wells fa contained in Bellamy’s “Looking Backward.”

THS National Insurance /Scheme which is cow in force in Great Bn* tain is a geesnine attempt to assist in the solution of the problem of poverty and provide for maintenance in sickness and old ago. It is, of course, entirely different from the weird measure passed by our own Parliament establishing what ia called a National Provident Fsnd, aud which merely collects the ehUlings of the workers ssnd gives no substantial or certain b?nefitg. In regard to osr own Act we tn:-r.t Mr Massey will take early opportunity either lo amend it so that the workers may benefit, or abolish it. Tbs British Act has been demonstrated against by some persons and bodies of men, principally no doubt because of the compulsory contribution to the funds, but as an exshapgo points out it will confer great benefit. First the State will become liable to contribute 3d a week the medical care of some H 000 000 ecnp'oyed parsons in the United Kingdom between ths ages of 10 aud 70 and with incomes below £IOO & year. Second ovary employer will become liable to contribute 3d a week towards the medical care of every employed person ia his service who comes under the Bill. Third, every employed person earning over 15* a week, unless exempt either wholly or partly, will become liable to pay 3d, either to a friendly society or to the Post Office as a. contribution towards their insurance Fc»vfch, the sanatorium benefit will Inunediately come into operation, and the State will be faced with new duties of care and healing towards every poor consumptive person. So far lor the first six months—from July ?o December. 1913. Then, on January Ist, 1913, will open the period of benefit. After that date all employed persons contributing will have earned the right; To a fltek benefit of loi a week for men and 7a 6d for women ; to free medical benefit; to Invalidity benefit of 5b a week; and' to a maternity benefit of 30,3 It ia necessary to remember, however, as Mr Harold Spender points out in the Dally News, that people cannot eat their cake and have it too. T :, cse who claim exemption, like some of the outworkers, will lose their bspefits, They will also lose the gifts of 2d a week from the State and 83 a week from their employer.