498 



so as directly to reverse the Osborne Judgment, was impossible, though the Government 

 was prepared with a Bill unsatisfactory to the Labour party and not proceeded with, 

 a second edition being introduced in 1912 for enabling Trade Unions to make special 

 provision for voluntary political funds, separately from the general funds to which 

 every member of the Union had to contribute; but it was hoped that payment of all 

 M.P.'s out of public money would do away with the particular grievance of the Labour 

 members. This was not however in fact the result, and the demand for a complete 

 legislative reversal of the Osborne Judgment persisted. In the country generally a 

 good deal of disgust was felt at the calm way in which M.P.'s had voted themselves 

 400 a year, and a number of individual members, who were far too well-off to want the 

 subsidy, did their best to refuse it. But the deed was done; provision was made in the 

 Budget; and a new temptation was held out for the multiplication of parliamentary 

 candidates among persons to whom 400 a year would be useful. 



Meanwhile the National Insurance Bill, introduced by Mr. Lloyd George on May 4, 

 1911, had introduced new issues into the political conflict, even when the constitutional 



crisis was at its height. This elaborate measure, in 87 Clauses, covered 

 aaceAcif two distinct subjects, one being National Health insurance, under newly 



constituted Insurance Commissioners for England, Wales, Scotland and 

 Ireland (with a joint Committee, formed from among them, for adjusting common 

 affairs), assisted in each case by an Advisory Committee, with County and County 

 borough Committees for local administration, and the other Unemployment Insurance, 

 directly under the Board of Trade. As the latter excited comparatively little criticism, 

 it may be dealt with first. 



(1) Unemployment Insurance, administered largely through the Labour Exchanges, 

 was limited to begin with to certain trades building, construction of works (railroads, 

 dock, etc.), shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, ironfounding, construction of vehicles, 

 and saw-milling but with power for the Board of Trade to extend the scheme to others. 

 Workmen in these trades (others than foremen, clerks, indentured apprentices, and 

 persons under sixteen) would be entitled under various restrictions to unemployment 

 benefit (up to a standard of 7 s. a week for not more than fifteen weeks a year, starting 

 at the second week of unemployment), out of an Unemployment Fund formed by each 

 workman compulsorily contributing 2|d. a week (paid by employer and deducted from 

 wages), employers 2^d. a week per man, and the State adding an amount equal to a 

 third of their total contribution. 



(2) For National Health purposes, compulsory insurance was imposed on all 

 persons (between 16 and 70) under contracts of service, with certain exceptions (includ- 

 ing those employed otherwise than in manual labour, and paid over 160 a year, of 

 possessing 26 a year from property), provision being also made for certain classes of 

 employed persons not compulsorily insured to come into the scheme as voluntary 

 contributors. Under the compulsory insurance (except for certain lower rates) male 

 contributors were to pay 4d. a week, female 3d. (employers making the payments and 

 deducting them from wages), and employers 3d. for each male or female employed 

 (special stamps for each amount having to be affixed to cards for this purpose), the 

 State adding to the National Health Insurance Fund so constituted an amount (two- 

 ninths in the case of men, and a quarter in the case of women, of the cost of benefits and 

 administration) which was reckoned to work out at 2d. a week per head. The benefits 

 primarily secured were (i) free medical treatment at home, (2) sanatorium treatment 

 for tuberculosis and other diseases specified by the Local Government Board, for which 

 special arrangements were made, the Government allocating 1,500,000 for the building 

 of sanatoria, (3) payment during sickness of IDS. a week for men and 75. 6d. for women 

 up to 26 weeks, (4) subsequent payment during disablement of 55. a week, and (5) 

 maternity bonus of 305. to women (including wives of insured persons) on confinement; 

 provisions being made for granting these benefits (medical attendance, sickness, and 

 maternity benefits not till six months, disablement not till two years after payments 

 started) or modifying and extending them as funds permitted. The agencies for 



