Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,1884. FOREIGN NATIONAL INSURANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 246, 13 September 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1884. FOREIGN NATIONAL INSURANCE.

Whkn Major Atkinson brought out his Bill to provide a scheme of National Insurance, his proposals were met with much opposition and a good deal of ridicule. It iscuri-. ous to note, however, that wherever a similar measure is set on foot the same opposition is forthcoming, whether it takes place m this colony or m Europe. At the present time there is a Bill before the German Legislative Assembly which is practically a scheme for National Insurance against accident, death and infirmity. The account of the passage of this Bill through its various stages may be seen m the Home papers, and to our colonial diplomatists, much that is instructive may be gained by its perusal, bl ere, our politicans expressed their antipathy to National Insurance, and denounced it without reserve. At the same time it was well known and admitted that, if the measure could be put into practical shape, its service to the country would be invaluable. Thus our politicans rather shewed their weakness m publicly denounc- | ing the Bill, when it was admittedly sound m principle. This was not the case however with the members of the German Legislature. If accounts be true, they attempted to kill the measure m another way, which if not more honest, was still much more diplomatic. The opponents and supporters alike spoke m favor of its being passed. So far things were satisfactory. But when it 'came to details, the Bill only covered the risk of accidents m mines, manufactories and similar undertakings. Here was the handle for those who were m heart opposed to. the measure, and they seemed to have grasped it very readily. With apparent suavity of manner^ one by | one fresh risks were proposed to be covered. The opposionists would blandly like a measure of such excellent qualities to be extended so as to reach every class, and m vain did the despairing Minister m charge of the Bill endeavour to explain that each such premature extension assisted the other m absolutely kil- ! ling the measure. Whether the j subtle attack was successful is not yet known, but one cannot resist a passing feeling of admiration at the masterly style m which foreign diplomatists seem to fight on political questions, nor can one help comparing the difference between the manner m which a similar measure was resisted m this colony and that just described. In our own case those •!©f* 'the politicians who were opposed to the Bill, at once blustered out' their denunciations against it, thus vilifying themselves before their constituents, for they had to admit it to be good m principle at any rate. In Germany we have similar" feelings of opposition, but less display of deficient generalship. There, the opponents of the Bill seemed as eager for its passing as its best supporters. But they saw that by extending its operations too suddenly at the commencement, the measure must kill itself, and at this point their strength lay. Hence, one after another each smiling supporter rose

to propose another extension and still another knowing that his proposition was only another death blow to its existence. Perhaps frankness is preferable m politics as m any thing else, but when men believe a thing to be good and yet make a duty, of opposing it, there is after all not much difference m the two ways of doing it, viz., the outspoken avowal, made contrary to the convictions, or an outward expression of sympathy that is not inwardly felt.