NATIONAL INSURANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 528, 28 November 1928, Page 6

NATIONAL INSURANCE

AUSTRALIAN BILL EXPLAINED HELPING TOWARD THRIFT “In the days of our youth we insured ourselves,” said the Commonwealth Treasurer, Dr. Earle Page, in a statement issued recently. “Had there been any suggestion that our employer or a paternal Government should pay part of our premium we would have smiled incredulously.” Our employer, continued the Treasurer, paid us exactly what we were worth to him. There his obligation ended. Out of our wage it was our obligation to provide for our old age, and to see that our widows and orphans were not left destitute. Now, however, the function of the Government bad altered in one important respect. It had assumed, rightly or wrongly, a control over industry aDd conditions of employment which brought its acts into close touch wiih every man and woman in the community, no matter how humble. No Quarrel Possible There can be no quarrel, argued Dr. Page, with the logic of an Act to help the people toward thrift by means of compulsory insurance. The views of many employers, too, had changed in the course of one generation. The increasing importance of maintaining an adequate supply of labour forced upon even the recalcitrant the conviction that the world at large can no longer accept the ancient view that the relation of employer and employee is summed up in the determination of the former to pay the latter so much for his service, and then to refuse further responsibility. According to the Treasurer, the modern employer regards his business not as a mere profit-making machine, but as a great trust which demands service from its workpeople, and recognises services toward them, and to the community in general. Many businesses, therefore, have provident and superannuation funds, some of these embracing all the workers, others only those on the higher salaries, and with a certain continuity of service. Indeed, since the recent passage of the Workers Compensation Act in New South Wales maiv companies have done all the insurance demanded by the Statute. Effect on Companies Such companies as have anticipated the Insurance Act, therefore, will not be affected. Provided that the benefits are commensurate with those granted by the Act, there will be no extra cost to the company, which, indeed, may become an approved society if it employs and insures at least 1,000 persons. If it does not employ so many it may combine with other companies distributing similar benefits, and with these form for insurance purposes an approved society. Provided it does not demand more than the statutory Is a week from its male employees, and tid from its female employees, and pays at least its own shilling, and conforms to the rules set down for the approved societies, it will be entitled to assistance under the financial provisions of the Act in connection with the work of insurance, just as will the mutual life assurance societies, friendly societies, and unions which are confidently expected to register as approved societies under the Act. The only conditions apart from tho contributions and solvency are that any individual must be allowed to transfer to another society on changing his employment, that no member must on account of his health have his membership cancelled, that tho employees’ representatives shall be chosen by ballot, and that on no account must the employer make membership a condition of employment. In short, there rdust be no coercion or restraint of the employee in the name of the Act, nor must there be aDy profit made from it. In conclusion, the Treasurer pointed out that provision is also made for the controlling National Insurance Board to include a representative of the employers.