NATIONAL PROVIDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 22, 11 September 1911, Page 3

NATIONAL PROVIDENCE.

PROPOSED EXTEXSIOX OF THE SCE EME. In the House on Friday night tin I’romicr said : This fund was established hy the Act of last session, and commenced op rations in 3 i.arch last. The Department is now actively engaged in distributing information relating to benefits and corresponding with employers, local bodies and industrial organisations throughout tlie Dominion. Applications so far received show that all classes are desirous ol enrolling-—farmers, artisans, labourers, domestics and clerical workers of all grades, indicating, f think, that the scheme is based on right lines, and that by the time it, is in full operation a considerable number of workers not otherwise provided for will be enjoying the secnui.y of the fund. Interest in the working of our Act hud year has been much stimulated hy the comprehensive scheme now before the Old Country, and based on compulsion, wherein it differs, fundamentally from our voluntary system. One of the most striking features of the British proposals is the thorough manner in which tiic machinery of friendly societies is to he utilised, and it. is clear that any scheme purporting to deal with this problem must take into account the work of these well-organ-ised bodies. In considering any extension of our system, therefore, the interests of friendly societies can he relied upon to hq carefully protected. There is no doubt’ that, the compulsory policy iu respect of this social reform has made considerable headway in public opinion, arid’ few students of the problem doubt its efficacy in the older countries, where highly organised industrialism and extensive distress exist side hy side. The extremes of poverty and wealth existing in European States, however, line! no parallel, even comparatively, in our land, where wo are still fortunately in the position of being able to forestall many of the evils so inherent in older social systems. There is in this country the opportunity to attain universality of sickness and health insurance hy most economic methods, and at the same time on sound lines, that is hy enlisting the young into insurance and preventing them from lapsing from it throughout life. The linos upon which the fund might enlarge its scope would he to provide for immediate sickness and enter into the question of assisting local bodies to overcome superannuation difficulties by following the policy outlined. It should ho possible, without entailing heavy financial obligations on the State or the individual to eventually arrive at good results as would bo attained, hy the adoption of the immediate compulsory system. The insuring agaiesi t.remployment proposed in the British scheme is admittedly experimental and restricted. It is 'the lirst national scheme of the kind, and its clop• meat will he watched'with ir fcr'est ii those countries where the p’ohlem is under observation.