INVALIDITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3212, 6 May 1911, Page 7

INVALIDITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

DETAILS OF THE SCHEME.

BRITISH INSURANCE SCHEME,

(UNITED PEERS ASSOCIATION -COPYRIGHT.! LONDON, May 4*. Mr Lloyd George introduced the InValidity and Unemployment Bill, as outlined in the “Times” on March 28 and 29. It provides for compulsory deductions from wages of from fourpence per week for men and threepence for women, down to a penny. Employers will contribute threepence and the State twopence. He explained that a voluntary scheme admits members at a payment of scvenpence weekly. Those over 45 years of age pay more weekly. All will receive medical attention. The Government will devote £150,000 to assist the building of sanatoria for consumptives, and a further million yearly for patients’ maintenance. The sick allowance will be 10s for the first three months, os for the next three months, and 5s weekly thereafter if permanently disabled, hut the benefits to women will be slightly less. The surplus after lo years will permit of old age pensions being given at 65, and increased pensions to those working over 65. OPINIONS ON THE SCHEME. (Received May 5, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. Unionist members of the House of Commons are delighted with sickness and invalidity proposals, but give less emphatic approval to the unemployment provisions of the scheme, believing that the addition to the cost of manufacture should be accompanied by some form of protection against goods produced under other conditions. The Liberals are enthusiastic over the whole scheme. The Laborites generally approve of the scheme, but regret that- the unemployment insurance proposal is not moTe general.

UNFOLDED BY MR LLOYDGEORGE. (Received May 6, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, May 5. The House was crowded and Mr Lloyd-George was greeted with general cheers. His voice was fairly strong_and he made a speech of 2|- hours, unfolding his National Insurance scheme. The Bill is to come into operation on May Ist, 1912. Mr Lloyd-George paid a tribute to Hr John Bums’ services. Under the scheme in the first year employers will contribute nine millions for sickness insurance and the workers eleven millions. The State in the first year will give £1,749,000; in .the record year £3,359,001); and in the third year £4,563,000. BENEFITS AND BENEFICIARIES. The first year’s benefits will be seven millions and the benefits will rise to twenty millions in 1916. Accidents are not included in the scheme. County health committees, will be formed to administer sanatoria. Thirty shillings maternity benefit will be allowed with a provision that a woman must not return to work within a month. No sick pay is allowed when illness is due to a man's misconduct. Doctors are to be paid above the friendly society scale and medicines obtained from chemists. The scheme applies t-o men not liable to income tax. It is estimated, that nine million two hundred thousand men and ten million nine hundred thousand women will come under the compulsory payment section and that one million six hundred thousand, persons will be voluntary contributors, the latter including waiters, cab drivers and hoys and girls under sixteen. Special arrangements are made for soldiers and sailors.