INSURANCE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1267, 24 October 1911, Page 5

INSURANCE BILL.

1 CAMPAIGN AGAINST SLUMS. By Tcleeraph—Prc3s AEeociaUon—Oopyrieliti London, October 22. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the, Exchequer, speaking in London, said Uicro had teen much give-and-tako regarding the Notional Insurance Hill, which was now absolutely safe. Ineidontally, ho stated that power would 1» given to compel owners of insanitary dwellings to pay for excessive sickness caused thereby. Municipalities would be made responsible) for insanitary condition.", and would similarly havo to pay for excessive sickness. "Wo will not get rid of slums until we make them a bad speculation," added Mr. LloydGeorge. Speaking before the East Fife Liberal Association, tho Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, admitted that tho second part of the Insurance Bill, dealing with tho •unemployed, was experimental, not final. Mr. Balfour's Criticism. In a speech at tho Conservative Workingmen's Club at Edinburgh, Mr. A. J. Balfour, Leader of tho Opposition, said tho worst that could l>e said against tho Insurance Bill was tho Prime Minister's declaration that general contributory schemes of State- assistanco might do in Germany, but wore unsuited to Uio national genius of Britons. Tho Bill provided for tho lusty wage-earner, but the abjectly poor got scant treatment. Mr. Balfour condemned tho Government proposal to apply tho closure in tho House of Commons in order to pass tho Bill before tho end of tho year. NO AGREEMENT WITH FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. (Eec. October 23, 11.35 p.m.) „„ . London, October 23. Mr. Wright, director of tho Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, in presiding at a conference of Friendly Societies at Chester, said tho Government statement that an agreement had been reached on tho Insurance Bill was a little premature. No arrangement had been reached.