THE NATIONAL INSURANCE SCHEME.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3666, 14 April 1883, Page 3

THE NATIONAL INSURANCE SCHEME.

Oa:.aru, This day. Major Atkinson gayo a summary of his a dresses here last night, dealing more fully Avith the one about national insurance. He was well received, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion. Dunedin, This day. Mr Stout delivered an address last evening to a large audience in the Lyceum. It Avas principally a criticism of Major Atkinson's scheme. The ground taken by Mr Stout Avas that the scheme Avas a gigantic special tax, Avhich would fall heaA-iest on the Avorking class, and he pointed out that while the present property tax yielded £1 •")(!,000 yearly, the proposal of Major Atkinson Avould result in the receipt of close on a million a year. He pointed out also one strong objection—that compelling a Avcekly payment from young people of 16 and IS years would have the tendency of sending them earlier into Avork and thus depriving them of higher education. He argued that the State should interfere less and less A\ith the individual: that there ivas no royal mad to the prevention of poverty, and that the only way to lessen pauperism was to gradually educate mankind to )ive better," to do aAvay_ Avith the causes of poverty, and fo socially and morally improve themselves. Such a special tax as Avas proposed by the Colonial Treasurer could only prove a complete failure.