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APPENDIX. EXHIBIT A. SOCIAL INSURANCE. As requested by the Committee I attach as an appendix hereto for the information of the Committee a resume of the social insurance systems of different States. I give a fuller description of three typical systems, such as — (1.) British National Insurance Act; as a type of a compulsory universal scheme. (2.) Belgian system : Voluntary State-subsidized scheme. (3.) New South Wales : Voluntary and societies' subventions GREAT BRITAIN. British National Insurance Act, 1911: Compulsory and Universal Persons included. Compulsory Contributors. —The compulsorily insured are termed " employed contributors," and comprise all manual workers, including domestic servants, but not workers whose labour is of the most casual description, such, for instance, as street porters, &c. Clerical and similar workers affixed remuneration exceeding .£l6O per annum are excluded from the compulsory section. Contributions. —The benefits on account of these contributors are provided from a weekly contribution on the following basis: Men employees, 4d.; women employees, 3d. ; the employer, 3d. : representing seven-ninths and three-fourths respectively of the value, the State providing for the remaining two-ninths and one-fourth of the benefits. Collection. —The employer pays the full contribution of 7d. and 6d. by means of special stamps, which he affixes every week to the employee's card, and deducts the latter's portion of 4d. and 3d. from wages. The cards are presented at the post-office, by whom the amounts are credited to the funds. The rate is the same for all ages up to 65 years, but the proportions payable on account of the employer and employee vary at if the wages of the worker fall below I ."is. per week. In this case the employer is required to make up the difference —as, for instance, a worker earning 9s. a week would himself pay only Id. and his employer 6d. An " employed contributor " is entitled to relief in respect of arrears of contributions during a certain period of unemployment. Voluntary Contributors. —All contributors are required to attach themselves to one of the " approved " societies which are to be intrusted with the payment of the principal benefits, and entry into these societies is to be governed by much the same condition as obtained at present, except as to age. Benefits. The benefits for all classes are — First three months' sickness —Men 10s., women 7s. 6d. per week. Second three months' sickness —Men and women, ss. per week. Permanent disablement, ss. per week. Free medical treatment and medicines for life. Maternity payment of £1 10s. Sanatorium treatment for consumptives. The sick-allowance payable under the scheme is not to exceed two-thirds the usual rate of wages, nor, together with any allowance from an independent source, is it to exceed the wages. Sick-allowances are subject to any sums or allowances payable under the Workers' Compensation Act. Where the benefits are reduced or suspended (which they may be through misconduct) the contributor is in any case entitled to medical treatment and medicines. Administration by Societies. Friendly Societies. —The principal part, of the scheme—that is, the administration of the sickness, disablement, and maternity benefits, and partially the medical—is to be in the hands of what are termed " approved societies," the definition of which, it is considered, will enable the principal existing friendly societies to qualify. An approved society is a body of persons, corporate or incorporate, registered or established under any Act of Parliament, and which complies with the requirements of this Act. Qualifications. —The societies are to have a minimum membership, and must give such security as is required by the Commissioners against malversation or misappropriation of officers, such security to be equal to one-half of the aggregate of the annual contributions payable by insured persons.