STATE MONOPOLY OF INSURANCE ADVOCATED,

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1917, Page 1

STATE MONOPOLY OF INSURANCE ADVOCATED,

DKBATK IN TIIIC HOI’SK. Lost week in the House oi Representatives, Mr A. Walker (ILtiucdiu South) formally moved lor leave to introduce his Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill. Mr H. Boland (Ohinemuri) ur.oed that instead of the present twentyseven accident insurance companie s there should be only one Government Accident Insurance Company. Further, without involving one shilling in extra premiums to the employers, full wages, instead oi only half wages, could he paid in the e.ase of death-or accident to the workers or their dependents, and the pnvmeut could commence from the date of the injury instead oi their having to wait fourteen days. The receipts of the companies dining the past year, lie slated, had been y. 337,000, and the chums paid totalled"/,' 172,000. while commissions amounted to ,o 15.000, salaries to /.'3d,000. and expenses to J,3,>cop. So that a total of 117.000 was paid in unnecessary expenditure, ihe balance went in dividends.

GQYKRNMKXT I'Rt’.HU To TAKK ! I’ BIIJ.. Mr C. IT. Boole (Auckland West) and Mr H. O. ICI I (Christchurch South) supported the Bill, Mr Bill expressing the hope that it would be-taken tip by the Minister for Labour (Mr Massey) and placed on the statute hook.

Mr J. Bayne (Grey Lynn) suggested that (he fanners of the House might, by supporting the Bill, do much to assist in removing industrial unrest and discontent. To make the position of the wives and children of the workers quite secure in case oi death or accident could not hut make for industrial peace. (Hear, hear).) The State Accident Insurance Office could be worked very cheaply in conjunction with the State Fire Insurance Office. STATEMENT BY KIXAXCK MI.XI.STKR. Sir Joseph Ward said that the matter was a very important one, and had been before the House on many occasions. He fully agreed that everything possible in the way of liberal treatment for injured workers should be done by the insurance companies and by the State Accident Insurance Office. He was ! sure, also, that employers were anxious to have-every possible provision made for injured employees. But lie wished to utter a note of an entirely different view to that of the • lion, members who had asked, that one institution only lor accident insurance—the State Office—should exist in the country. He believed that that would he a had system. . (“ Oh ! ” and hear, hear.) If it was right in regard to insurance that they should have a .State monopoly, because it would be so much more economical, would it not be right in regard to every other trade and industry ? ! Mr Bayne: “ That is what the 1 Labour Party have been preaching for many years past.” (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Sir Joseph asked whether on the same grounds of economy, they should not: have only one picture show m each centre —(laughter)— one church and so on. Tie did not believe in a State church-—(hear, hear)—but, on the line of argument adopted by lion, members, would it not lie much cheaper to have only one set of ministers of religion to collect for? (Laughter.) They should also have only one bank. Mr Bavne : “ We have been urging that for years.” (Laughter.) MR I’AY.X.cC, SOU? M R., AMI SC 11 KM I? 45. : Sir Joseph Ward : “ Would it not, ] also, he a great advantage to have only one representative in B;iriia- j meat. ? ” Mr Bavne : “ Hear, hear. . ■(Laughter.) A member :■ ; J <»h 11 Bayne, and scheme 45.” (Laughter. ) Sir Joseph Ward-: “The lion, member would blossom out into a great man ii lie was the only representative of the people in Parliament. He would save a great deal, of money. All the other members' salaries would he saved : and possibly the lion, member would he patriotic enough to work lor nothing.” (Laughter.). Mr Bavne: “ Yes; run it 011 side commissions.” (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward : “ Look what economy there would be.” ( Laughter.) It was never the policy of the country. added the Finance Minister, to, say that other institutions should be driven out and they should have a State monopoly in regard to banking, life, fire, , and accident insurance, and such things. (Hear, hear.) The State institutions had been established to regulate the charges of the other institutions, not to set up a State monopoly. (Hear, hear.) ITe was prepared to go as far as anybody in the House on sane lines to Help the people in every possible way. But there were great institutions, owned by the people, carrying on accident insurance business. Were they o-oiug to drive them out ? When money was needed ior the development of the country, as it would he for many years to come, it was to such institutions that they had ;t<> look for it. Mr Poland : “ Where do they get it ? ” Sir Joseph Ward : “ It doesn’t matter where'they get it.” Mr Polaud : “ That is the old gag ; but the State would make all the profit they have been making-” (Hear; hear, and laughter.)

Sir Joseph said that such institutions had provided the greater part of the War Loam. The Government Accident Office was not a vicious competitor with other offices, hut a regulator of rates. (Hear, hear.) “A HUMILIATING POSITION.” MrJ. McCombs (Lyttelton) declared that it was a monstrous position that big financial institutions at Home should so control the politics of New Zealand that, the Government dared not take tip a matter like that in the interests of the workers. ( Hear, hear.) It was a very humiliating position. Mr r W. A. Witch (Wanganui) pointed out that in spite of repeated protests, the Government had yet done nothing to relieve the worker whose injury lasted for less than a fortnight., it was declared to he a safeguard against malingering, hut he contended that 110 provision ever gave rise to so much malingering as this one, that no man was to get compeusat on unless the injury lasted more than a fortnight. (Hear, hear.) The law as it stood‘enabled employers on payment of a small premium to clear themselves ofthe whole responsibility lo r accident and to relieve themselves of the neecssitv ior providing safety appliances that would prevent accidents. But what the workers wanted was to be saved from accidents, not compensation for accidents. (Hear, hear.) ■ Mr A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) said that while the accidents on the wharves occurred lor the most part between the ships and the wharves, the Government inspectors ban at present 110 powei to inspect the appliauces—such- as gangways, baskets, and slings.

A MATTKR FOR Till? PRESS. I j Dr Thacker (Christchurch Fast) liiaintaiued that the'mien of the industrial army should have the same provision made for themselves or their dependents in ease of death or injury as the Minister for Defence, now the biggest employer in the : Dominion, was seeking to make in j the case of the soldiers fighting at i the front by the bill introduced the j previous day. (Hear, hear.) i Leave was given to introduce the bill, which was read a first time, and referred to the Labour Bills 1 Committee.