Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] Being the extended title of the Wairarapa Daily, with which it is identical TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1892. NATIONAL INSURANCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4162, 12 July 1892, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878] Being the extended title of the Wairarapa Daily, with which it is identical TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1892. NATIONAL INSURANCE.

The Civil Service Bill has passed its second reading; and all classes in this Colony are profoundly interested, if they only knew it, in the various points brought out by the debate. Whether the Board of Management for which the Bill provides, should or should not be permanent, whether it should or should not be responsible to the H ouse, are matters of detail which must, we suppose, be fought out between the politioal parties of the House. But tho essence of the Bill consists in this, that it-is a courageous and honest attempt'to grapple with the problem of poverly in old age. It seeks to provide, in the case of a very large body of our citizens, an annuity for the later'years of life, and an insurance policy payable at death. Under this Bill, all permanent employes of the Government can be classed with the Civil Service by Order-in-Council; suchasrailwuy labourers and State school teachers, who have not hitherto been placed in this category, They will, of oourse, be subject to suoh alterations in the provision made for them aB may be found to be absolutely necessary in view of the difference of their position from that of the Civil Servant proper. Their admission into the ranks of the beneficiaries will, we are informed, depend entirely upon their own willingness to join, after receiving m exposition of tho scheme as it would affect themselves.

It ia apparent that the greatest pains have been taken to bring down ut practicable proposal; and the very least return for his efforts in this direction that the Premier has a right to look for is that the subject shall be discussed with seriousness and deliberation;' It haebeen left for Mr Taylor alone-"Sydenham Taylor" —to play the buffoon in Parliament, with a characteristic witticism about the Governor and the Agent-General, When Mr Taylor realises the difference between the House of Representatives and a citcusring, every intelligent colonist will rejoice. But the core of the subject was first touched by Dr Newman, who said, "The time was ooming when every man over sixty years of age would be entitled to a State pension from sums he had contributed in his youth." Yes, Tho desirableness and the absolute possibility of National Insurance against want in old age is hoi! likely to receive clearer demonstration than will be afforded by, observation of the working of this initial scheme for pensioning and insuring a section of the community, The Bill is to some extent an experiment, perhaps, At all events, it is the first step; but there is every reason to prophesy that, when it has passed into law,its success will be commensurate with the expectations of its wellwishers, We are glad that the Premier consented to postpone the committal Of the Bill for a fortnight, Members will have time to study its provisions by the dry light of common sense; and,if it emerges with its essential clauses intact, the Civil Service will owe much to the Premier in this instance. We observe that in moving the second reading, he deprecated the suggestion that he was introducing a scheme of national insurance; but we view these proposals as a distinct contribution to the general acceptance of that idea. It is not the first casein which Mr Ballance has advantageously followed in the footsteps of his honoured predecessor. When lie is original, Lis schemes are apt to be untrustworthy, and hisreasoningis generally unsound, 'When ho is content with the comparatively inglorious role of imitator, be is sometimes a useful political] who deserves oredit for his good intentions.