INSURANCE ACT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1486, 8 July 1912, Page 7

INSURANCE ACT.

PENALTIES FOR DEFAULTERS.

By Telegraph-Press AejOciatlon-Oopyrtirlit (Beo. July 7, 5.5 p.m.) ■'•■ '".-" London, July 6. Mr. C. P.Q. Masterman, Uh'der-Secre-.tery.; to the Home Office,.yesterday inti- ' mated in the House of Commons that if employers wilfully djsobey .the Insurance Act' the penalty olausea will be enforced. The Government is determined that the benefits of the Act shall not bo destroyed by ishe foolishness of the employers. The Unionist; papers have hotly denounced the .threats of punishment and declare that even the officials have failed to the Act.. The Insurance inissioners have been overwhelmed with inquiries, and notwithstanding the millions of leaflets issued, few appear to understand how to conform to the innumerable requirements: of the.Act. -Threats of passive) resistance are increasing. ■ The doctors' deadlock continues. WHAT WILL HAPPEN -ON JULY 15. n Sow does the Insurance 'Act stand ? ■i&a& ■ -frl happen. First, the Mate will become liable to contribute a week towards the medical care of S? n ™ MW>>tiW employed persons' in tho Un iW Jungdom, between the ages of 16 end-.vo,_an.<t .with incomes below a year. Second, .every-employer will become liable to contribute 3d. a week towards the medical pare of overy employed,; porson in his service who comes under the Bill. Third, ovcry employed person earpi ng over 15s. a week, unless exempt either wiholly or partly, will become liable to pay, if a man, 4d. a week, and if a woman 3d., either to a friendly society or to the Post Office as a contribution towards their insurance. Fourth,tho sanatorium benefit will immediately come into^ operation,'and tho State will be faced with now duties of care and heaU ing towards; every poor consumptive per60U,V ' .

So far for the first six months—from July to December, 1912. .'.-.' Then, on January' 1, 1913, will open the period of benefit.; After that data all employed persons contributing will have . earned tlie'rijht: : ;■ To a sick benefit of 10s. a Treek for men i and' 7s. 6d. for women; '. To freo medical benefit; To invalidity benefit of ss. a week; and • To a maternity benefit of 80s. It is. necessary to remember,, however, as Mr. Harold Spender points out, in the "Dajly News/' thai' people cannot eat their cake and have it too. Those who claim exemption, liko some of the ont..workers, will lose theso benefits. :■ They , -will also lose'the'gifts of 2d..a woek T frora' the, State: and 3d.'a week from their emj'.plOyer. ■;' .••; '.».' ~- ! It is the fixed resolution of the Governraent to start this great scheme, on July 15,. and therefore .the hew machinery is being,, driven at very high 'speed.'. Three ■ great tasks now fall upon the Insurance Commissioners, assisted by that large Advisory Committee, ithioh ia in. itself almost a little Health, Parliament.' They have, first, to approve the socie....■ties that will work the Act.'Second, they must create ithe Insurance Committees. Then they, must, tew up the regulations for-the'.benefits; and last, but' not' least, they must either come to terms'with thedoctors, or they must make some other arrangement,for. the medical care of tho .insured, persons.:;,.;:/,. "i