PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10029, 1 July 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

INSURANCE QUESTIONS,

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 30. The House of Representatives me at 2.30 p.m., and a long discussion' arose on the Premier moving that a report on an accident Insurance company be laid on the table. Mr T. E, Taylor said that the time had come when the Government should take over the business of accident insurance, as a State monopoly. Since the Government Department haa been instituted a saving of £125,000 had been effected to the people by the reduction of premium 8. Messrs Hardy and Wright opposed the idea. Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition, said that the State monopoly was likely to be as mischievous aa any other monopoly. The State Department had been run at a loss. The proposal that the Government should not lend money to people who did not insure in the State Department was monstrous. Oth.r speakers having addressed the House on the subject, Sir Joseph Ward said that the Government had all along realised that "there should be full scope for private enterprise in the Dominion. The Government Life Department was not intended to drive other companies out uf business but to ensure reasonabla rates uf insurance. The country would never allow the Government Fire Department to go out of business. Private companies refused to accept re-insur« ances from the State Fire Department and if the State did not take re-insurances from other companies it meant practically the death of the State Department. Referring to accident insurance, the Premier said there were great risks in making accident insurance a State monopoly. A State Department could not now undertake the whole business*. Some effort in this direction would be made this session in a legitimate way, but the Government had to bear in mind the responsibilities connecte.l with proposals made by Mr Taj lor.