m THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES iif t:OTLAND INSURED Plicn 'iv Oebenham iV Co., N'otk. By J. M. Hogge, M.P. The Book with all the Facts. SIXPENCE NETT. SCOTLAND INSURED By J. M. HOGGE, M.P., Author of " The Facts of Gambling," " Licensing in Scandinavia,'' etc. EDINBURGH: W. F. HENDERSON, 19, George iV. Bridge. 1913. CONTENTS Preface. Chapter 1. A Retrospect. Chapter II. The National Insurance Act, 1911. Chapter III. Progress of the National Insurance Act. Chapter IV, Progress in Scotland. Chapter V. The Scottish Insurance Commission. Chapter VI. The National Insurance Amendment Act, 1913. Chapter VII. What the Insured person under the National Insurance Act should do. Appendices. I. The Scottish Insurance Commission, complete list of useful addresses, etc. II. List of addresses of Officers of Customs and Excise in Scotland. 405982 PREFACE. THE passing- into law of the Amending Act suggested this booklet. It appeared an opportune moment for presenting a picture of the whole problem and supplying within the covers of one volume the information which it is essential all who are brought within the four corners of the Act should know. I have not sought to deal wilh Part II. of the Act as that does not apply generally to those who must come under Part I. For the purposes of Part II. Scotland is included ^m the area — Scotland and Northern — which also includes Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Durham. It may, however, be useful to summarise the results of Part II. here. The following figures are for the United Kingdom. The number of unemployment books issued was only slightly less than the estimated total of 2,532,000. Of these less than one-fifth had been previously insured against unemployment. The income of the unemploy- ment fund is at the rate of ;^'2,400,000, and the invested balance in July of this year was ;£ri,610,000. In the six months in which the scheme has been operative 400,000 individual claims have been made against the fund, three-quarters of which were direct and only one-quarter through Unions, etc. It is interesting to note that G2 per cent, of such claims were covered by benefit. The operation of Part II. has acted beneficially on Trade Unions. Membership has increased in those which previously gave such benefits, and 21 Trade Unions have since begun to give unemployed benefit. In addition no fewer than 275 associations with a membership of over one million have been approved to receive the State contribution for schemes of volun- tary insurance ag-ainst unemployment. Briefly, tlic number of people protected against unemployment has increased six-fold and funds are accumulating at a rate which w ill enable workmen to face the next cyclical trade depression with accumulated funds of several millions. The facts and figures of Health Insurance talk for them- selves in these pages. They present an amazing achievement. True, the Act is still the subject of hostile criticism. There are always some meagre souls who resent the success of anything they are opposed to and who grudge the admission of their own lack of foresight in spite of the experience of their own eyes. The author of the scheme — Mr. Lloyd George- — has been the target for all rifles, and often the firing from the butts has not been within the rules. But his great scheme is emerging from the confusion of the scaffolding and the debris associated with laying foundations, and as the lines of the building are being seen the magnificence of the structure appeals to more and more eyes. He has been fortunate in his craftsmen, particularly in Scotland. The Commissioners have shown grit and courage, have overcome difhculties and met disappointments with a single eye to the ultimate success of the scheme, and to-day they are on the threshold of having 100 per cent, of the possible insurable persons insured. It is a great record in adminis- tration and a pride to us to know that we have done it for ourselves. An attempt was made during the discussion of the Amending Act to abolish the separate Commission, but a resolute resistance was offered to the proposal by Scottish Liberal members with the result that the suggestion was defeated by an overwhelming majority. It was a political Bannockburn. Another more insidious proposal, though not defeated, was so altered as to leave Scotland unscathed if Scotsmen so desire. It was proposed to amalgamate separate societies in Scotland with their centralised Society in Enoland for purposes of valuation. This meant sacrificing^ any advantag^es gained in administration in Scotland. It also meant breaking- the con- tract under which Scotsmen had joined the scheme. Moreover it meant that three-quarters of a million Scottish insured persons would have been taken out of the ultimate control of our own Commission and it requires no acute observation to conclude that such a step meant the abolition of the Scottish Commission. A second fig'ht was made against these proposals, with the result that should such amalgamation take place any insured person has'the right to transfer at once into a Scottish National Society. Moreover such amalgamation cannot take place without an inquiry being held and, if required, a poll of the members. No Scottish insured person therefore need go out- side his native country for any purpose, and he will be a wise man if he insists on remaining outside any scheme for joint valuation. On the results of valuation depend increased benefits or reduced contributions, and unless all the omens are false it will pay insured persons in Scotland to reap their own harvest. All interested should study carefully Section 16 (1) of the National Insurance Act, 1913, and if they desire to remain a Scottish entity should at once send, through their Society, a representation to the Joint Committee to be treated as if they formed a separate Society. This must be done within six months of August 15th, 1913, i.e., on or before February 14th, 1914. Delay is dangerous. After that date the foolish virgins will be left lamenting their oilless lamps. Clause 16 creates a new position, and it must be dealt with at once. The responsi- bility of delay can only rest with those who, having the oppor- tunity, do not immediately seize it. After the fight that was made on the floor of the House of Commons, there is no excuse for any dilatory proceedings. Action will now reap the reward which those most conversant with Scottish conditions, characteristics and ability to administer, feel certain will accrue from separate valuation in Scotland. The doctors of Scotland have a ^^reat opportunity. Maling-ering- is the vogue of ihe ir.oment, and attempts are made to prove that the Act is being made the plaything of the born- tired. It is incidenially worthy of note that Scotland, however, is not included in the special enquiry which is being made into this practice. The doctor is the sheet anchor of the Society. He must certify. It is easier to give a certificate than to refuse it. And it may be that to keep patients there may be the temptation to be generous. We feel certain that this will not be the case and that a courageous exercise of duty, even at the expense of temporary unpopularity and, it may be, of some patients, will be the rule and scarcely ever the exception. Already there is a call for a Referee. Is this because profes- sional jealousy is such as to put several off-side? Let the medical profession bear in mind that free choice of doctor does not mean freedom either to ruin Societies or to break down National Insurance. Let them remember that Scotland expects them to play their great part in this fine scheme to combat disease, and that the public will not be unmindful of their ser- vices if they are in line with the great tradition of the profession. Finally, it should not be lost sight of that the Act is more than an Insurance Act. It is a vast lever for social progress. As experience matures and the far-reaching provisions of the original Act are put into force to compel better conditions of vhousing, sanitation and public health, the greatness of the measure will appear. As one approaches the horizon it recedes and a fresh horizon takes its place. The horizon of the Act now is bounded by administrative effort to secure that all who ought to be within the four corners of the Act are there. Now that that is achieved we must look ahead to a newer and wider horizon which we can make possible through the social, BURGHS. Aberdeen 74 Greenock .. 25 Airdrie 8 Hamilton 14 Arbroath 9 Inverness .. 13 Ayr IS Kilmarnock 8 Clydebank 8 Kirkcaldy .. 18 Coatbridge 8 Leith .. . 66 Dumbarton 9 Motherwell .. 15 Dumfries and Maxwelltown 9 Paisley .. ■ 17 Dundee ... .. 55 Perth 12 Dunfermline 15 Rutherglen .. 20 Edinburgh .. 138 Stirling .. 11 Falkirk 16 Wishaw 9 Glasgow .. 193 47 PROGRESS IN SCOTLAND. CHAPTER IV. SANATORIUM BENEFIT. Probably the most popular feature in the National Insurance *Act was the scheme for the treatment of Tuberculosis. Un- doubtedly the crusade against the ravag-es of the white plague caught the imagination of the nation, and the efforts to arrest this disease evoked the hearty goodwill of the medical profession, public health authorities, and generally the mass of the nation. Most people were not too closely concerned with discussions as to methods. What aroused and dominated public feeling was the idea that sustained attention would be given to the essentials of public health with regard to housing, drainage, the abundant supply of water, fresh air, and good food, as well as to the application of medical remedial measures to endeavour to arrest and, if possible, stamp out this disease. Compared with other portions of the country, Scotland has suffered severely from this devastating scourge. The dimen- sions of the evil may be gathered from the following facts : — (a) The total number of deaths from the various forms of Tuber- culosis in Scotland during the five years 1907 to 1911 inclu- sive was 44,933. (b) Of these 28,037 were due to pulmonary Tuberculosis. (c) As contrasted with other infectious diseases during the same time, pulmonary Tuberculosis alone caused more deaths than resulted from the whole of the following, namely : — I Smallpox, Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Typhus Fever, Enteric Fever, Measles, and Whooping Cough. (d) Every death from pulmonary Tuberculosis represents several existing cases of the disease. (e) Whilst the incidence of other infectious maladies is mainly on childhood, that of pulmonary Tuberculosis is mainly on adults at the working period of life, many of them being fathers or mothers with families to maintain. The following" statement of the position in Scotland is taken from the report of the Scottish Insurance Commission. With regard to the number of approved institutions and the number of beds available in these institutions, it may be said that each bed represents accommodation for three or four persons in the year as the averag-e time of treatment may be taken to represent three or four months. Thus 1,600 beds would roughly accommodate some 6,000 persons per annum. It may further be said that the sustained attention of the Central and Local Authorities is being given to the provision in every district of a complete organisation to cope with the preventive ^md remedial measures which are desirable in order that organised scientific effort may be applied to fight this terrible plague. In most districts some provision is available, and more complete organisation will be speedily forthcoming where it is required. Sanatorium Benefit is the second of the benefits named in Section 8 (1) of the Act. It is there defined as " Treatment in sanatoria or other institutions or otherwise when suffering from tuberculosis or such other diseases as the Local Government Board, with the approval of the Treasury may appoint." The following is a brief review of the main provisions of the Act with respect to this benefit : Sanatorium benefit was not subject to a waiting period ; it became current on loth July, 1912, the date on which the Act came into operation. It is administered in all cases by and through Insurance Committees, who are required, for the purpose of its administration, to make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Commission with a view to providing treat- ment for insured persons suffering from tuberculosis in institutions or otherwise. 49 The sums avilable under the Act for defraying the cost of the benefit in each year are one shilling and three pence in respect of each insured person resident in the Insurance Com- mittee's area, payable out of the National Health Insurance Fund, and one penny in respect of each such person payable out of moneys provided by Parliament, but the whole or any part of the latter sum may be applied by the Commission to research. Unless recommended by an Insurance Committee, an insured person is not entitled to sanatorium benefit. An Insurance Committee may defray in whole or in part the expenses of the conveyance of an insured person to or from any sanatorium or other institution to which he may be sent for treatment. An Insurance Committee may, if it thinks fit, extend sanatorium benefit to the dependants of insured persons or to any class of such dependants. If in any year the amount available for defraying the expenses of sanatorium benefit is insufficient to meet the estimated expenditure on sanatorium benefit for insured persons and such dependants, the Insurance Committee may, through the Insurance Commission, transmit to the Treasury and the Council of the County or Burgh an account showing the estimated expenditure for the purpose, and the amount of the sums available for defraying the expenses of sanatorium benefit, and the Treasury and Council may, if they think fit, sanction such expenditure. The Treasury and the Council of the County or Burgh sanctioning such expenditure as aforesaid will thereupon each be liable to make good, in the case of the Treasury out of moneys provided by Parliament, and in the case of the Council of the County or Burgh, out of the County General Purposes Rate, or Burgh Public Health General Assessment, as the case may be, one-half of any sums so sanctioned by them and expended by the Insurance Committee on sanatorium benefit for insured persons and their dependants in the course of the year 50 in excess of the amount available for defraying' the expenses of the Committee on sanatorium benefit. Provision is made for the expenditure of a sum of ;,^1,500,000 made available by the Finance Act, 1911, for the provision of sanatoria and other institutions for the treatment of tuberculosis. The sum was to be apportioned between England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in proportion to their respective populations at the 1911 census, and is to be dis- tributed by the Local Government Board with the consent of the Treasury, who, before giving- their consent, are to consult with the Commission. Any County Council receiving a grant may be authorised by the Local Government Board to provide and maintain institutions, and Joint Committees and Joint Board may be constituted by Order of the Board for this pur- pose. An Insurance Committee, with the consent of the Commission, may, under certain conditions, contribute out of its Sanatorium Benefit Fund, by annual or other payment, towards the maintenance of an institution or the provision of treatment available for persons recommended by them for sanatorium benefit. Up to the time of the passing of the Act, efforts had been made by Local Authorities in Scotland, and also through private benevolence and enterprise, to make provision in some measure for the treatment of tuberculosis, but these efforts tended to be restricted and inco-ordinate. Although much had • been done by the local extension of the Notification Act of 1889 to pulmonary tuberculosis and in other ways, there were few local government areas which, in respect of treatment either in residential institutions or elsewhere, were meeting the needs of their population in a complete and adequate manner. With the passing of the Act, a new prospect was opened — a prospect with far-reaching possibilities. The treatment of tuberculous insured persons was obligatory on Insurance Com- 51 mittees ; the treatment of their dependants was sug-g-ested, and the g-rants in aid of buildings were seen to be available, not for the benefit of insured persons only, but for the whole population. In order that progress from existing conditions to those outlined by the Act might be guided along reasoned and uniform lines, the Treasury, by Minute of 22nd February, 1912, appointed a Departmental Committee, of which Mr. Waldorf Astor, M.P., was Chairman, and the Deputy Chairman of the Commission a member, to report at an early stage upon the considerations of general policy in respect of the problem of tuberculosis in the United Kingdom in its preventive, curative, and other aspects, which should guide the Government and local bodies in making- or aiding provision for the treatment of tuberculosis in sanatoria or other institutions or otherwise. The Committee in their Interim Report stated that the scheme for dealing with tuberculosis which they desired to recommend was based on the establishment and equipment of two units, the first of which is the tuberculosis dispensary or equivalent staff, and the second the sanatorium or similar institution. In the Scottish section of the Committee's Report, the view is expressed that certain recommendations of the general portion of the report may not be applicable or suited to Scotland, owing to the different position, legal and otherwise, existing in that country. It is stated that the Local Govern- ment Board for Scotland have power to require Local ' Authorities to provide out of rates for practically every variety of treatment included under the term sanatorium benefit. In respect of the units which should constitute a scheme, the Scottish portion of the Report is in agreement with the remainder. On 29th May, 1912, the Local Government Board issued a circular which drew attention to the powers and duties of the rv7 Board and of Local Authorities, sug^jj^ested that Councils of Burghs of more than L*0,OUO inhabitants, and of Counties, should instruct their medical officers to prepare a report on the requirements of their area with respect to a tuberculosis scheme, and desired information before 1st July as to progress made. On the 18th June, 1912, the Local Government Board made their Public Health (Pulmonary Tuberculosis) Regulations (Scotland), 1912, rendering the notification of pulmonary tuber- culosis compulsory throughout Scotland as from the 1st August, 1912. All these steps in the way of progress were directed towards the evolution of permanent schemes. But the 15th July, on which sanatorium benefit was to come into operation, was now close at hand, and it was necessary that provisional arrangements should be adopted to begin with. The Commission accordingly issued a circular for the guidance of Insurance Committees during the transitional period. It was suggested that in the beginning the work of enquiring as to the best course to be adopted by an Insurance Committee with regard to insured persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis should, with the necessary sanctions and under proper terms and conditions, be undertaken by the Medical Officer of Health. At the same time the attention of Committees was drawn to the necessity of entering on the careful consideration of permanent schemes for the adminis- tration of sanatorium benefit. SANATORIA HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES. Inception of Sanatorium Benefit. In order that Insurance Committees, under Section IG (1) of the Act, might make arrangements with persons or Local Authorities (other than Poor Law Authorities) for the treat- ment of insured persons in sanatoria or other institutions under their management it was necessary that the institutions should 53 be approved by the Local Government Board. The Board had instructed their Medical Inspectors to make local enquiries and inspections, with the result that, on 15th July, there were 46 institutions in Scotland approved and ready for the treatment of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis. Institutions as at I5th July, 1912. Of the 46 institutions approved by the Local Government Board as at 15th July, 1912, 36, with upwards of 883 beds, were sanatoria or hospitals. Three of these, with a pro\ision of upwards of 41 beds, were reserved for non-pulmonary cases. There were in addition 10 approved dispensaries, situated in the Burghs of Dundee, Glasgow, Greenock, Inverness and Leith. Institutions as at 31st March, 1913. Follovv^ing the 15th July, 1912, the work of inspection and approval by the Local Government Board continued to be carried on, with the result that at 31st March, 1913, the total number of institutions available for insured persons had risen from 46 to 101. Of the 101 institutions, 87 were sanatoria or hospitals, containing upwards of 1,533 beds in all, of which 109 were for non-pulmonary cases only. The 10 dispensaries had been increased to 14, by the addition of one in Edinburgh, one in Paisley, and two in the Glasgow area. Since the above facts were published, the dispensaries have been increased to 15. The approved institutions have risen from 101 to 109, and there has been an increase of beds from 1,533 to 1,656. NUMBERS TREATED FOR TUBERCULOSIS. Between the 15th July, 1912, and the 31st March, 1913, Sanatorium Benefit was received in Scotland by 1,557 insured persons. The approximate total expenditure chargeable to the Sanatorium Benefit Fund to the 31st March, 1913, was ;^17,963 18s. 7d. 54 The persons actually in receipt of sanatorium benefit at the 31st March, 1913, numbered 1,177 in all, of whom 735, or 62.1 per cent, were in sanatoria or hospitals, while 19.5 and 18 per cent, respectively, were receiving- dispensary and domiciliary treatment. Of the total 1,177 cases, 344 were derived from the areas of the 31 County Insurance Committees, and 833 from the 25 Burghs with a population of 20,000 and upwards. COUNTIES. Of the 344 County cases, 276, or 80.2 per cent., were under- going- treatment in sanatoria or hospitals, while 68, or 19.8 per cent., were in receipt of domiciliary treatment. There was no dispensary treatment in the county areas. The counties of Fife, Ayr, Lanark and Renfrew had each over 20 persons in sanatoria. Of the County Committees which had recommended more than a single case, nine were able to procure sanatorium treatment for all their patients. The Committees in question were those of Argyll with 6 cases, Dumbarton with 14, Dum- fries with 9, Lanark with 48, Linlithgow with 5, Midlothian with 13, Renfrew with 24, Selkirk with 9, and Stirling with 19. Twelve of the thirteen Perthshire cases were in sanatoria. Of three cases in Shetland, two were in receipt of sanatorium treatment. The Wigtownshire Committee had the pleasing- experience of total exemption from claims upon their Sana- torium Benefit Fund. BURGHS. The percentage of the 833 Burghal cases which were re- ceiving treatment in sanatoria at 31st March, 1913, was 55.1, as contrasted with 80.2, the corresponding figure for Counties. This difference, however, is not in general association with a higher incidence of domiciliary treatment in Burghs, for the proportion of home cases in Burghs is, in fact, somewhat less than in Counties, being 17.3 per cent., as against 19.8. The 55 cause is to be found in the prevalence in Burghal areas of dis- pensary treatment, wiiich accounted for 230 persons, or 27. G per cent, of the total. Of the four g^reat cities, Edinburi^'^h, with 7!l.5 per cent., iiad the hii;;hcst proportion of sanatorium treatment ; (ilasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen follow in order with 17, 13.3 and 29..^ per cent, respectively. No Buri,'-h which had recommended 10 cases or o\er for sanatorium benefit had the whole number in sanatoria at the 31st March. The highest dispensary figures, 71.2 per cent., was reached by Greenock; Glasgow occupies the second place, with 48.8 per cent, of cases so treated, and is succeeded by Leith and Inver- ness with percentages of 39.4 and 25 per cent, respectively. Domiciliary treatment was under 5 per cent, in Glasgow and Leith. At the 31st March no cases were being treated exclusively at home in Airdrie, Dumbarton, Dumfries and Max- welltown, Dunfermline, Greenock, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Paisley, Perth, Rutherglen or Stirling. Wishaw, alone among the Burghs, had no insured person in receipt of Sanatorium benefit either at home or e-lsewhere. The following table shews the comparative figures for all four countries. It will be observed how much better Scotland has dealt with this problem than her sister countries : — England Scotland Ireland Wales SANATORIUM BENEFIT. 15th July, 1912— 30th April, 1913. Number of persons re- Percentage of commended such persons by Insurance who have Committees for Sanatorium Benefit. ... 15671 .. 2075 .. 1476 .. 1192 .. received Sanatorium Benefit. 93.31% 97.06% 87.87% 97.48% Percentage of cases in which treatment is being or has been given. (<0 In Sanatoria. . 51.03% . . 75.12°o . . 67.46% . 33.30% (6) In or (c) through a At home Tuberculosis (Oomicihary Dispensary. treatment.) 14.81% 5.11% 5.47% 39.24% 34.14% 19.76% 27.06% 27.45% 56 SICKNESS BENEFIT. Sickness benefit, or sick pay as it is commonly called, is defined in the Act as " periodical payments whilst rendered incapable of work by some specific disease or by bodily or mental disablement, of which notice has been given, commenc- ing- from the fourth day after being- so rendered incapable of work, and continuing- for a period not exceeding twenty-six weeks (in this Act called 'Sickness Benefit')." A reduced rate of benefit is payable in respect of young- persons under 21 who are unmarried or who have not any members of their family wholly or mainly dependant upon them. There are also some special provisions relating to special married women con- tributors and to members of the mercantile marine, to soldiers and sailors, and to some insured persons who come under sec- tion 47. With these exceptions under the new Act, when it operates, and subject to qualifying waiting periods and to the three waiting days and to the operation of any arrears, the rate of sickness benefit is a flat one, and all British employed contributors over 21 who insure beiore 1 3th October, 1913, will be entitled to 10s. per week if men and 7s. 6d. per week if women, and incapable of work. MATERNITY BENEFIT. Maternity benefit, while, comparatively speaking, a new benefit, has been most popular. Definition has already been made of this benefit. \'arious questions relating to adminis- tration in Scotland have arisen. One of the chief points of difference in Scotland in rela- tion to the administration of maternity is raised by the fact that the Midwives Act, 1902, does not apply to Scotland. By the proviso to Section 18 (1) of the National Insurance Act it is laid down that " the mother shall decide whether she shall be attended by a duly qualified medical practitioner or by a duly certified midwife." Section 80 (17) of the National 57 Insurance Act 'meets the different .situation by saying- that '' certified midwife " shall be held to mean any midwife possess- ing such qualifications as may be prescribed. Accordingly the Scottish Commission have made a regulation which enacts that the qualifications of a midwife for the purposes of Section 18 of the Act as applied to Scotland by Section 80 of the Act shall be either (a) Bond fide practice in Scotland as a midwife for a period of at least one year prior to 15th January, 1913; or (b) Regular or due attendance at a course of training in midwifery a;t such hospital, infirmary, or other institution as may from time to time be approved in writing by the Commissioners. It is laid down by paragraph three of these regulations that "if any question arises as to whether any woman possesses the prescribed qualifications the same shall be determined by the Commissioners, whose decision shall be final." The Amending Act m.odifies in certain directions the con- ditions attached to the administration of maternity benefit. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTORS. Voluntary Contributors in Scotland have turned out to be a very small class. According to the official figures, there are less than 2,000 in the whole of Scotland. The voluntary contributors are defined in the principal Act as : — " All persons who either (a) Are engaged in some regular occupation and are wholly or mainly dependent for their livelihood on the earnings derived by them from that occupation, or (b) Have been insured persons for a period of five years or upwards. provided always that no person whose total income from all sources exceeds one hundred and sixty pounds a year shall be entitled to be a voluntary contributor unless he has been insured under this part of this Act (Part I.) for a period of five years 58 or upwards. Persons upwards of 65 are not authorised to become voluntary contributors." Some important alterations referring- to voluntary contri- butors are made under the Amending- Act. Doubtless one of the reasons why so few persons have entered into voluntary insurance is the effect on the public mind of the campaign against the Act. Instead of insurance being- represented as a good thing- and desirable in itself, the sugges- tion made has been that it was bad and a thing- to be avoided. Persons who are entitled to enter insurance as voluntary contributors should very carefully consider the scheme on its merits. More especially does this hold good with regard to those persons who are entitled up to 13th October, 1913, to enter on the flat rate of contribution. This advantage is one that should not be lightly cast aside, and an immediate decision should be made. THE DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTOR. No part of the National Insurance Act has been subjected to so much criticism as that part which relates to the Deposit Contributor. Metaphorically speaking, gallons of ink have been spilt over the woes of the poor depositor. Like other parts of the Act, the actual situation has turned out to be totally different from that anticipated. It is well to bear in mind that under the Insurance Act every Society was given the right to reject any applicant on any ground except that of age. It was expected that a con- siderable number of persons would be unable to find entrance into any Society by reason of their state of health. As a matter of fact, few Societies held a medical examination of those applying for membership, and little difficulty was experi- enced by average persons in securing entrance into some kind of approved Society. The Deposit Contributors are not only 59 very much fewer in number than was expected, but they appear to be of a different class from that anticipated. Ah the in- formation available from approved Societies and from oflicial sources tends to shew that deposit contributors as a class are quite good " lives " and that lhe\' could find entrance into .Societies if they so desired. As a matter of fact, deposit con- tributors in Scotland at first numbered about 45,000, or some- thing- like '21 per cent, of the total insured persons. The numbers of this class and the district to which they belong are g-iven in the table relating to number of insured persons in .Scotland. From official sources one learns that nearly 10,000 have either transferred to some Society or given notice that they intend to transfer. One also learns that two of the largest approved Societies have offered to take over en masse the entire body of deposit contributors. As every effort is being made to induce deposit contributors to transfer to approved Societies, and as it is obviously to their advantage to do so, it would appear that the educative effect of the pay- ment of restricted benefits will drive more and more depositors to join some Society. Although the figures are only available for a few months, and it is therefore unsafe to draw too strict •conclusions from them, it would appear that the deposit con- tributor is drawing sickness benefit at a much lower rate than that claimed by members of Societies who are enjoying the lowest sickness experience. On the basis of the figures obtaining during the first six months, it is evident that there will be a substantial surplus on the total of the deposit contri- butors' accounts taken as a whole. In other words, if the Deposit Contributors' Fund were a Society, it would appear on present experience to be a good sound business proposition. The question, therefore, arises whether the deposit contri- butors should not be formed into a Society under the manage- ment of the Insurance Commissioners on the insurance basis with such safeguards as might be required by the special neces- .sities of the class as experience determined. In any event the GO Deposit scheme is a temporary one, and in a year's time suffi- cient data will be available for the treatment of a question which appears to be one of comparatively easy solution. CASUAL WORKERS. The case of the regular worker presents few serious diffi- culties in Scotland. The position of the casual worker is one of the most difficult in National Insurance. Indeed, here and elsewhere, in all kinds of social reform the casual worker is always attended by a train of administrative and financial difli- culties. Among" these obstacles to successful administration is the straitened circumstances of the worker, his irregularity of work, his numerous employers, his migratory habits, his frequent changes of address, and his lack of education and dis- like to anything approaching routine or system. There is, of course, the outstanding difficulty of the casual worker avoiding arrears and keeping himself in benefit. Casual labour is em- ployed in a vast variety of industries and numerous plans have been advocated and many experiments tried to adapt the pay- ment of contributions so that no undue burden should fall on the employer or employee. Thus there have been instituted pooling s}stems, grouped employers, arrangement of payment by employers in turns, as, for instance, in connection with char- women and cleaners. The new provisions with regard to arrears and schemes for treating casual labour should prove helpful to the casual worker. It should always be noted that it would be impossible to exclude casual workers from the scope of compulsory insur- ance, as to do so would encourage the employment of casual labour, a result which would be deplorable in itself and one which might operate against the interests of regular labour. It is to be observed that in Scotland during the past year or two regular labour has been well employed, and casual or seasonal labour has tended to become more fully employed than hitherto. In fact, during such prosperous times labour Gl tends to become decasualised and as, for example, in agricul- tural work labour begins to shew itself not so much as casual but as part of a series of operations covering- a variety of sea- sons, such as the preparation of ground, tlie planting of seeds, the cleaning of ground, and the picking or gathering of the fruits or harvest of the soil. It may be that the operation of the new arrears clause and schemes adopted to meet casual or irregular labour will partly solve the problem, which is a serious economic one. The exigencies of a necessitous class may make it necessary to charge the employer of casual labour with a contribution on a scale sufficiently high to give the casual worker a reasonable chance to keep in insurance and to enable him to join a Society, and thus secure the benefits of real insurance, even if such a Society is a specially managed or subsidised one as indicated in the paragraphs on Deposit Contributors. "MALINGERING." The financial basis of the National Insurance Scheme is that contributions have been fixed to meet the cost of certain benefits. The cost of these benefits has been estimated by actuaries to be a certain weekly figure for sickness, disable- ment and the other benefits. The cost of sanatorium benefit is calculated at a fixed amount per person per annum ; medical benefit is computed at a certain figure per person ; maternity benefit is estimated on the basis of a number of births per annum and a sum of 30s. being paid for each birth in connec- tion with an insured person or the wife of such. Various investigations have been made in this country with regard to the sickness experience of members of Friendly Societies. The Government actuaries have adopted sickness tables derived from an extensive investigation made on behalf of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows by Mr. A. W. Watson. The problem of the actuaries was to assess the cost of pro- viding certain benefits for a lad of sixteen and then to fix a rate of contribution sufficient to cover the cost of such benefits. 62 The actuaries took into account that contributions would not be paid during sickness or unemployment and that the average number of payments per person would be 48 per annum, or at a 7d. rate a sum of 28s. per annum. On the basis of calculations adopted by the actuaries the contributions necessary to provide the various benefits for per- sons entering insurance at 16 years of age would be as follows, the cost of medical benefit being taken at 6s. per annum : — Benefit. Medical Sanatorium .. Sickness Disablement Maternity Administration Total Margin Contribution It should be remembered that there is a scheme of reserve values. The " reserve value " of an insured person is the liability which a Society undertakes by accepting him at the moment of his entry into insurance. It is thus possible to adopt a flat rate of contribution for all ages. It must be kept in mind that the rate of sickness increases with advancing years. The following table gives the rates of sickness experienced at each age by the Manchester Unity as derived from their investigation during the years 1893-97 : — Necessary contribution in Net produce of contribution pence per week, per annum. ^^^ Men. Women. ' Men Women. d. d. i s. d. £ s. d. 1.51 1.51 .. 6 6 .32 .32 .. 1 3 1 3 2.39 1.74 .. 9 6^ 6 lU .73 .81 .. 3 H 3 3 m .17 .. 2 8 8^ .92 .92 .. . 3 8 3 8 6.58 5.47 .. 1 6 3 1 1 10 .42 .53 .. . 1 9 2 2 7d. 6d. .. 1 8 1 4 kge. Weeks of Sickness per Member per annum. Value at 3% of a Sickness Benefit of £l per week for the whole of life. £ 20 .9 56.7 30 1.0 68.5 40 1.4 84.0 50 2.4 104.0 60 5.2 128.7 70 14.8 150.5 80 30.4 137.1 One main question that will require to be answered in con- nection with the working- of National Insurance in this country is the vital one of whether the basis of the Government actu- aries is a safe one or whether it will be found that suilicient marg-in is not allowed for lives which represent the mass of the nation and are, therefore, not selected, such as many of the members of the Friendly Societies were. Even the Manchester Unity figures might be said to be in some respects an investi- g-ation of the experience with reference to selected lives. It has also to be remembered that few Approved Societies instituted a medical examination of those who applied for membership of the State Section of Societies, and that, therefore, some Socie- ties may be loaded with a large proportion of bad lives. For it must never be forgotten that only a certain fixed number of days of sickness is allowed in the calculations for each member of a Society per annum, and the contributions and interest on reserve values only provide the funds which are sufficient to meet the expected amount of sickness per member per annum. If that expected amount of sickness is exceeded the result will be a deficit in the funds of the Society- That deficit must be met in certain ways, either by receiving a portion of such deficit from associated members, or by lev}- on members, or reduction of benefits payable to members of the Society. It should be kept in view that the State does not guarantee the payment of benefits. All that the State guarantees to do in connection with benefits is to pay 2/9ths or l/'-tth of such benefits as are paid. If there is a deficit in the funds of a Society due to excessive claims on the sickness funds that deficit must be met by the members. It will not be met by the State. The question of the actuarial calculations of the basis of the National Insurance Scheme is important. Moreover, if a Society has been unfortunate enough to admit too large a pro- portion of bad lives the effect is obvious and deficits are certain. Behind the whole scheme lurks this grim spectre that in the judgment of some critics threatens the whole superstructure of 6i National Insurance. Apart from real sickness, or excessive claims on particular Societies due to a large proportion of bad lives, there arises another vital question as to vi^hether the in- troduction of a State Insurance Scheme will lead to increased claims for sick pay, not because of real illness, but because of sham illness, or whether it may not foster a class of "illness" which is more or less imaginary. This, in the opinion of many students of insurance, is the most difficult and dangerous of all questions involved in the administration of National Insurance. It is the question that is troubling the minds of the Adminis- trators, it is perplexing the medical profession, and it is already causing grave anxiety to the executive officials and working committees of the approved Societies. Although the British experience under the State is too limited to yield reliable data, it is admitted by students of voluntary insurance under the old Friendly Societies that malingering did exist and that checks were necessary in order to prevent and limit and, if possible, prevent fraud on the funds. It is admitted that there is a certain amount of malingering in connection with claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act. It is further admitted and proved that the great German insurance scheme has been productive of much malingering and that checks have had to be set up in order that frauds on the sickness funds may be reduced and, if possible, eliminated. All these facts point to the necessity for close scrutiny of claims, for care in administration and for attention to the main features of good business management of the sick funds. It may further be found necessary to institute special checks in the shape of the employment by Societies of special sick visi- tors. This system is not novel, and it has been found to work well where faithful and efficient visitors have been organised in connection with the payment of sickness claims to members of Societies. The " doctor's line," or certificate of illness, will G5 be a ^reat protection if ccrlificates are only ^'■ranted to mem- bers who are truly incapable of work. A ^^reat responsibility lies upon the insurance doctors. On them rests the important duty of seeing that s^enuine applicants are duly certificated as being- "incapable of work." On the other hand, it is their plain and obvious duty to refuse to give certificates to those who are not entitled to receive them. Medical men must keep in view that their certificate is equivalent to a cheque to bearer. If these cheques are given carelessly or wrongfully no Society on the present basis can stand the burden, and deficits and bankruptcy will be the inevitable result. One of the most important checks on malingering that may operate advantage- ously and powerfully will be the effect of the healthy public opinion of the general body of insured persons shewn in their attitude to those who are beyond doubt defrauding Societies by making claims for and receiving sick pay on improper grounds. The insurance doctor's sphere is a most important one, the sick visitor may be a powerful bulwark to the sick fund, but as important will be a healthy public opinion un- affected by any spurious feeling of sympathy for the malingerer. It will be a matter of vital importance for the members of Approved Societies to understand that any individual who is robbing the sick fund of a Society is robbing his fellow mem- bers, and probably depriving some members who are truly necessitous from receiving benefit. The State does not make good any deficit. The members themselves must defray any balance that is on the wrong side. Thus, improper claims do not fall on the State, but their burden really falls upon the members of each Society. Undue claims and bad management are thus penalised. Good management is rewarded. It is desirable to make the above perfectly clear, for it must be recognised that many people take one view with regard to transactions with individuals and another and totally different view of transactions with the State, corporate bodies, insurance and railway companies and societies. However difficult it may be 66 to defend such action, it is a matter of common knowledge that many persons think it rather clever than otherwise to escape due payment of income tax, or to seek relief from the payment of rates and taxes even when they are able to pay them. In the same way numbers of people view with somewhat luke- warm indignation any attempt to get the better of an insur- ance company or to defraud a railway company. Irregularities or offences in any of the above directions are often regarded as venial and the detection of such frauds, or conviction related thereto, does not carry the degredation or loss of social status that it ought, nor does it signify any very great change in public opinion with regard to the delinquents. This point requires to be emphasised because so much has been heard of the State and State Insurance that it is to be feared that many insured persons have been imbued with the idea that a benign Govern- ment with a bottomless purse invites all to claim money. And the loose and vague talk one hears in certain quarters is that there is money in National Insurance and it is the business of some people to secure their share of it. The popular idea seems to be that they are paying for benefits and are entitled to receive them. It is overlooked that benefits are only pay- able on certain well defined conditions. If these conditions do not exist, no benefits are payable. The next few years will be a searching time for the admin- istrators of National Insurance, but the test will apply to the people as well as to their governors. 1 have belief in the character and good sense of the great majority of Scottish people. For the minority who may require education and over- sight in a new field, it may be said that the national ability to grapple with difficulties will be likely to solve any knotty problems, and that stern adversity may guide the way over any obstacles that may beset the path of the well-wisher of National Insurance. Moreover, the triennial valuation will exert a very healthy discipline and, where necessary, provide a salutary lesson. 67 THE SCOTTISH INSURANCE COMMISSION. CHAPTER V. The Insurance Act in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Insurance Commissioners, and the Scottish Health Insurance Fund is under the control and manag-ement of the Scottish Commissioners. Insured persons in Scotland are under the supervision and control of the Scottish Insurance Commissioners, and insured persons resident in Scotland, even althoug^h members of English, Irish and Welsh Societies, are considered to be Scottish and under Scottish control. It should be specially noted that for the very important Insurance pur- poses relating- to valuations, surpluses, deficiencies and trans- fers, insured persons resident in Scotland, irrespective of what Society they are attached to, must be treated as if they formed a separate Scottish Society. The Amending Act alters this position of affairs. Further reference u'ill be made to the changes introduced by the new Act in this respect. In the meantime, it may be stated that, to put it as succinctly as possible, Scotland, so far as National Insurance under the National Insurance Act is concerned, is under Home Rule. As considerable discussion has arisen with regard to the policy of having separate National Commissions for Insurance purposes, it may be helpful to examine the case for and against a separate National Commission. It should be borne in mind that not a word has been alleged against the capacity or opera- tions of the Scottish Commissioners. The success of the GS Scottish Commission is undoubted, and it is g-enerally admitted that Scotland stands well in the front of National Insurance in every direction. For various reasons separate treatment of Scotland is imperative. To take first of all the geog-raphical position, Scotland differs considerably from England in several important respects, and such differences involve administrative variation in treat- ment. The area of England amounts to 50,823 square miles. The area of Scotland, with its islands, is 29,820 square miles, being rather more than half the area of England. Around Scotland there are no fewer than 788 islands, of which 600 are inhabited. The coast line of Scotland is actually 700 miles longer than the coast line of England — a much larger country. Scotland is a much more mountainous country than Eng- land. The climate of Scotland is colder and damper than that of England. The higher parts of Scotland are more liable to be under snow in winter than are the low^ lyirig" p^fts of the country in England. Scotland is much more sparsely populated than England. In proportion to population, England is four times more thickly populated than Scotland. Means of communication are not so good in Scotland. In the Islands there are no railways, and on the mainland there are fewer railways than in England. The main roads in Scot- land are good, but hilly. Many of the side roads are fair, but many are bad. There are great economic differences in Scotland as com- pared with England. The Lowlands of Scotland generally are prosperous, although there are many special administrative difficulties caused by sparseness of population and lack of means of communication. In the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in many parts there exists a combination of adverse influences 69 which are not equalled in any part of Great Britain and Ire- land, partly because of climate and soil, difficulties of com- munication, sparseness of poj^ulation, j^rcat po\erty, and speci- ally restricted means of gaining- a livelihood. There is no part of Great Britain which presents to the administrator so many difficulties of an embarrassing nature. It is almost impossible to realise that within a day's run from London there exist a lonely people speaking a different language, living in a strange land, among mountains and islands, trying to extract a pre- carious and hard living from a barren soil or an angry sea. It is only on railway posters that the Highlands of Scotland are painted in enticing colours. I'he life behind the picture is our real concern. Again it is necessary to remind Englishmen especially that Scotland has been accustomed to a liberal measure of self government, and that in Education and Local Government many changes have been introduced and systems peculiar to Scotland have been successfully instituted and organised as part of a separate and efficient system of local self government. Many separate Scottish departments have been set up, and it is generally admitted they do their work to the satisfaction of the Scottish people, always bearing in mind the strong preference for immediate control by a local parliament. This proviso does not apply to the Insurance Commission, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh and so is accessible to the Scottish people and responsive to public opinion. The case for a separate National Commission could be summed up by stating that Scotland is a separate nation, with many separate geog- raphical and economic features, with differences in climate, means of communication, law, language and custom. Briefly, and in tabular form, here are the considerations which seem to us to make a separate Commission indispensable : — (a) Convenience and saving of expense to local administrators, insured persons, and the public generally. 70 (b) Scotland's different code of law, judicature, and system of local government necessitates a body in close touch wiith the general admin- istrative and legal machinery of the country. (c) The important public health aspects) of National Health Insur- ance necessitates harmonious co-operation with the Public Health Authorities, and this can only bo effectively secured by a Scottish body. (d) That there should be a Scottish Commission is in line with modern tendencies. In practically all the comparable spheres of government separate National Central Authorities have been set up. (e) Local Government in Scotland is of a much more democratic character than in England, and local bodies are less likely to work well under a central adminis-tration dominated! by prevailing English ideas. (f) In administering an Act like the National Insurance Act a tendency towards bureaucracy is apt to arise. A Scottish Commission through its close touch and sympathy with subordinate bodies is less likely to retrograde in this direction. (g) Geographical and economic conditions in Scotland are so divergent that only a National Commission can satisfactorily adapt its methods to them. (h) With separate Commissions it is much easier to allow latitude as regards regulations necessary to meet the differing circumstances in the two countries. The position of a body which attempts to make different Regulations for different parts of the area within its juris- diction is less easy to defend against malcontents in both parts, even granting some difference of circumstances. (i) The National Health Insurance Scheme is so gigantic that division of labour and of responsibility is expedient. (j) The system of medical and pharmaceutical service in Scotland is so essentially different from that in England and is also so greatly affected) by the geographical config^uration of the country that the medlical adniinistration of the Act can be successfully conducted and supervised only by Scotsmen in close touch with the interests con- cerned. (k) The doctors and chemists in Scotland look at matters con- nected with the Act in quite ft different light from their English colleagues, and their methods of thought are very dissimilar. A Com- mission acquainted with their peculiarities can alone deal satisfactorily with them. (1) The tuberculosis problem in Scotland is totally different from that in England, and to grapple with jt a Commission in close touch with the Scottish Local Government Board and Scottish Local Authorities is required. (m) There is no Midwives Act in Scotland, and the administration of Maternity Benefit has accordingly special characteristics which re- quire the close supervision of a Commission having personal know- ledge of the conditions. 71 (n) The Scottish Pour L,-i\\» and Public Health Medical Services are under the su-pervision of a Scottish Central Body. There is equal need for the suporvision of National Health Insurance by a Scottish Central Authority. (o) The British Medical Assooiation and the Pharmaceutical Stand- ing Committee found it necessary to recognise the special conditions in Scotland by setting up independent Committees to deal with Scottish Insurance questions. The objects of these bodies were severely practical, andi if decentralisation was necessary to deal with their comparatively small problems, a fortiori it is necessary in the case oif the large problems which have to be envisaged by the administrators of the National Insurance Act in Scotland. (p) The personal knowledge of the people and the problems to be dealt with possessed by the Scottish Commissioners and their proximity to the scene of action have often enabled them to overcome difficulties which must have proved insuperable to a remoter central authority. It may be added that representations in favour of a separate Commission for Scotland during the recent discussion in Parlia- ment were received from various sources, notably the National Conference of Scottish Friendly Societies and bodies represent- ing Chemists. The opposition to a separate national commission arises in the first place from those who are in favour of centralised government as against local government. In the debate in the House of Commons during the month of August, 1913, only one popularly elected Scottish member of Parliament voted against the continuance of the Scottish Commission. The main argument is that trouble is caused in certain directions. The directions are not usually specified and nothing is said about the trouble that would be caused to the mass of the people by one Commission. Indeed, Mr. Worthington Evans, the Mem- ber for Colchester, was forced to depart from his plea of one Commission, and his motion actually included the retention of truncated or delegate commissions in each country. The com- plaints as to extra work entailed on a few secretaries is surely a small matter compared with the convenience and better local management of a million and a half people. In any case arrangements can be made and are being made to introduce a six months' card, and in other ways to simplify procedure and reduce as far as possible the amount of book-keeping- which at present falls on certain officials of some Societies. It has been frequently stated, but never proved, that the separate commissions are expensive, and that money could be saved by amalgamation. It is assumed by these critics that the staff attached to each commission could be abolished. The critics have never once examined the case to see whether in- spectors, clerks and accountants could be abolished or reduced. It will be seen at once that they could not. Accountants, card sorters, clerks and inspectors would be required for Scotland irrespective of whatever kind of Commission existed, and the only difTerence, so far as expense is concerned, would be that one or two Commissioners could be dispensed with. On the other hand, the officials in Edinburgh would have to refer everything to London, with all the attendant delay and expense that is so irritating a feature of the Civil Service system to-day. To the vision of the critics there appears a vast army of officials employed solely because of the separate Commissions. The National insurance administration is to some extent fortunate in being- able to use other Government Departments, such as the Post Office and the Customs and Excise, and there is little doubt that but for this aid there would, especially in the initial stages, have been a greater number of officials required. It may be news to the public and to the critics to find that the entire staff of the Scottish Commission from Commissioners to door- keepers and including clerks and inspectors is 221. The whole of the charge for this staff is put en the Civil Service estimates. In other words, the cost rests on the general taxpayer. The total charge for staff for 1913-14 is about ;^30,000, or an average of about ;^135 per annum per official. NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT, 1913. CHAPTER VI. In view of the interest aroused by the passing- of the National Insurance Amendment Act, 1913, which became law on 15th August, 1913, the following notes may possibly be regarded as in some degree helpful in eliminating certain difficulties attendant upon an initial consideration of its provisions as affecting Scotland. The Employed Contributor. A very important concession has been granted to such persons by the extension until 13th October, 1913, of the period within which advantage may be taken of the right to enter into full insurance at the flat rate of contribution. All employed contributors entering into insurance before that date will do so at a uniform rate of contribution, while those who become employed contributors after 13th October will require to pay a rate appropriate to their age at entry or suffer an equivalent reduction of benefit. A very important alteration has been made with reference to the sickness benefit payable to insured persons of age 50 and upwards. Under the principal Act such persons were sub- divided into four distinct classes : — (a) Persons between 50 and 60. (b) Persons between 60 and 65. (c) Persons between 65 and 70 as at 15th July, 1912, who entered into insurance prior to 15th July, 1913. 74 (d) Persons under 65 at 15th July, 1912, who did not become em- ployed within the meaning of the Act until after attaining age 65. These various classes were dealt with as follows : — Classes (a) and (b) received substantially reduced sickness benefit. Class (c) received only such benefit as their Societies might determine. Persons in class (d) were not allowed to be insured or to receive any benefit, but their employers v\ere required to con- tribute 5d. per week in respect of them. All these restrictions have now been swept away, and persons in the four classes referred to may now become insured persons enjoying- the same rates of benefit as other employed contributors. The only qualification now existing is that persons who become employed contributors, after attaining age 65, shall not be entitled to medical benefit after age 70 unless at least 27 contributions have been paid in respect" of them. A new class of employment has been brought within the scope of the Act's compulsory provisions, viz., " Employment under any local or public authority except such as may be excluded by a special order." Employed contributors over 60 may, if they have ceased to be so insurable and if they are otherwise qualified to do so, become voluntary contributors at any time irrespective of the duration of their insurance as employed contributors. The rate of contribution exigible in such case continues to be the employed rate. Under the principal Act this privilege was allowed only to employed contributors who had been insured as such for at least five years. The Voluntary Contributor. The period during which a voluntary contributor under age 45 may come into insurance at the flat rate has been extended 75 to 13th October, li)l."5. 'Ihis provision will necessitate the allowance of special credits in respect of excess contributions thiiiiit4' the period bi'tween \~)\h January and lolh October, 1913. No voluntary contributors whose income from all sources exceeds ;£^160 will be entitled to receive medical benefit, but if in insurance their weekly contributions will be reduced by one penny. Exempt Persons. A new class of exempt persons has been created. Any person who proves that he is ordinarily and mainly dependent for his livelihood on the earnings derived by him from an occupation which is not employment within the meaning- of the Act is entitled to a certificate of exemption. This provision meets the case, for example, of the certificated teacher under a pension scheme who may take a class in an evening school. Another of the provisions of the new Act is that which confers upon exempt persons the right to receive medical and sanatorium benefit, subject only to certain qualifying conditions to be imposed by the Commissioners. It is expressly stipulated that exempt persons whose annual income from all sources exceeds p{5"160 shall be required to make their own arrangements for medical treatment. A propor- tionate payment will be made to them out of funds reserved for this purpose. Aliens. The position of women who, prior to their marriage with an alien had been British subjects, has now been materially im- proved. Formerly the State proportion of the cost of benefit was denied them, but now such a married woman is entitled to re- ceive full benefits if she is herself insured and whether or not she is so insured the maternity benefit payable in respect of her alien husband's insurance is increased by two-sevenths. The cost of this increase is defrayed out of moneys furnished by Parliament. 76' The effect of this provision is that a British woman's rates of benefit remains unaltered for insurance purposes even although she marries an alien. Aged and Infirm Members of Societies. All members of Societies as at 16th December, 1911, who were not qualified to become insured persons by reason of age or permanent disablement and who were then entitled to medical attendance and treatment are to receive medical benefit as from 1 2th January, 1914, This privilege was formerly con- fined to members of such Societies as became approved, but the restriction has now been removed. Parliament contributes towards the cost of medical treatment for this class the same proportion as that provided in the case of ordinary insured persons. Seamen. Dissatisfaction was formerly caused by the fact that the Seamen's National Insurance Society could not admit to its membership masters, seamen and apprentices to the sea-service, or the sea-faring service, who were qualified to become volun- tary contributors. This power has now been granted and it is anticipated that some fishing boat owners and other sea« faring men, not employed under contract of service, will avail themselves of the benefits secured by this provision. It is also provided that where a shipowner — although liable to provide maintenance and medical treatment — is not liable to pay wages, a Society shall have power, in the case where the seaman was serving on a home trade ship, to apply sickness benefit in whole or in part for the benefit of his dependants. Maternity Benefit. Perhaps the most widely discussed clause during the passage of the Bill through Parliament was that dealing with 77 1 Maternity Benefit. Its provisions mriy be briefly outlined as follows : — Maternity Benefit is now in ail cases regarded as the mother's benefit, her receipt alone bein<^ reg-arded as a valid discharge to the Society or Committee concerned. The husband's receipt, on her behalf, may be accepted if authorised by her. The position where the husband alone is an insured person otherwise remains unchanged, but in all cases where the wife is herself an insured person, and a Society member qualified for benefit, double maternity benefit of ;^3 is payable. If the husband is a Society member and entitled to maternity benefit half of this sum is paid in respect of his insurance. If he is a deposit contributor, as much of the 30s. as his account will bear is advanced, and the balance is made good by the wife's Society, otherwise the entire cost of maternity benefit is borne by the latter Society. It will be observed that the anomaly previously existing in the case where husband and wife were both insured persons, but the husband was unqualified for maternity benefit, has now been removed. It should be noted that where any benefit is paid in respect of the wife's insurance, she is required to abstain from remun- erative work during a period of four weeks after her confine- ment. The position of maternity benefit under the Acts may thus be summarised : — (a) Husband ansured, wife not insured — husband's society pays one benefit to the wife. (b) Husband and wife both insured — husband's and wife's society each pay one benefit to the wife. (c) Wife insured, husband not insured — wife's society pays two benefits to her. 'd) Unmarried insured woman — her society pays her one benefit. 78 Arrears. Of the provisions affecting the practice of Approved Societies, those dealing with the treatment of arrears incurred during periods of unemployment must be regarded as particu- larly worthy of notice. The hardship entailed upon members of Approved Societies in having to pay not only their own but also their employers' contribution during unemployment has frequently been adversely criticised. In terms of the principal Act the employers' share of contributions might be disregarded, but only at the discretion of the Society. In the new Act it is explicitly laid down that an employed contributor falling into arrears requires to make payment only of his own share of the contributions, and iot the purpose of determining this share the rate of remuneration, except where suflicient evidence to the contrary is adduced, is deemed to exceed 2s. 6d. per working day. Thus a man who has been out of work for 15 weeks requires to pay onlv 15 x 4:d., or 5s., in order to come back into full benefit, instead of 15 X 7d., or 8s. 9d., as formerly. The loss to Societies in excess of an average of three full weeks' contributions per member per annum is to be made good out of the sums retained for cancellation of reserve values. If the aggregate amount so payable in any year exceeds ;^100,000 this excess is to be met out of moneys to be provided by Parliament. It is proposed that instead of permitting arrears to accumulate from year to year, the rate of sickness benefit payable to the defaulting member should during each year be reduced roughly in proportion to the value of the loss incurred by the Society from his failure to pay contributions during the preceding year. This reduction of benefit will be based upon the expectation of sickness of the individual. Thus a man of 40 would require to forego, say, 6d. a week of sickness benefit 79 for one year for every contribution in arrear during the previous twelve months. That is to say, this man, if 12 weeks in arrear would suffer reduction of sickness benefit to the extent of 6d. X 12, or 5s. per week; but provided that he incurred no further arrears during- the year of reduction he would come automatically into full benefit as from the end of that year. The corresponding reduction in the case of a man presently aged 55 would be, say, 3d. per week. Tables will doubtless be calculated shewing the value of arrears at various ages, and an examination of these tables will at once reveal the precise position of the individual member to the member himself and to the Society Secretary responsible for the administration of his benefits. Before leaving this topic, it may be pointed out that if in any year more than 48 contributions are paid in respect of any member, these excess contributions will be held to his credit and will be utilised in wiping out any arrears of contributions which may subsequently accrue in respect of him. Sickness Benefit. Other modifications of the provisions affecting the administration of sickness benefit may here be briefly referred to : — Continuing Sickness. The requirement that 50 contributions must be paid between two periods of illness to prevent them being regarded as continuous is now dispensed with. It is still necessary, however, that a period of at least 52 weeks should intervene. Waiting Period. " Commencing on the fourth day of such incapacity " is to be substituted for " commencing from the fourth day after being so rendered incapable of work." A day upon which the incapacitated person was prevented by the incapacity from doing 80 any effective work is to be treated as a day of incapacity, but Sunday is not deemed one of the three working days which must elapse, unless the insured person would, but for his incapacity, have actually been employed upon that day. Members in Hospital. The provisions of the principal Statute dealing- with the treatment of sickness benefit while the member is in hospital have been somewhat modified. It is now laid down that where no payment, or partial payment only, of Sickness Benefit has been made — (a) To his dependants, or if he had no dependants, (b) to the Insurance Committee, (c) under a previously existing agreement to the hospital authorities ; the money so withheld shall be applied — In the provision of surgical appliances or otherwise for his benefit after he ceases to be an inmate, or if not so expended shall be paid in cash, in a lump sum,, or in instalments, to the member after leaving the institution. Member in receipt of compensation under Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906. Where an insured person is receiving reduced sickness allowance, representing- the difference between full sickness bene- fit and the sum payable in accordance with the provisions of an agreement under the Workmen's Compensation Act, the amount paid in sickness benefit shall be totalled and the number of weeks during which he shall be deemed to have received sick- ness benefit will be reckoned by dividing this total by the full weekly rate of benefit. For example, suppose that the insured person has during the first period of illness received a com- pensation allowance of 7s. 6d. per week and sickness benefit of 2s. 6d. per week. If now it be assumed that these sums were paid for 16 weeks and that at some later period during the same year the insured person again falls ill, it is necessary to reckon 81 the period during- which full sickness benefit can be allowed. The period during- which full benefit was formerly paid is consequently "^'- x ](;, or 1 weeks, and the insured person is therefore entitled to full sickness benefit during the further period of 22 weeks. This, it should be observed, applies only in the case where the member recovers and subsequently becomes ill. In the case of a continuous illness, however, each week durini;- which any payment is made counts as a full week towards the 2G weeks throughout which benefit is payable. International Societies. Several most important administrative changes are made by the Clause dealing with international Societies. Previously, the members of such Societies res'ident in each part of the United Kingdom were required to be treated for the purposes of valuations, surpluses, deficiencies and transfers as if they formed a separate Society. These provisions have now been done away with. Fortunately, however, it is provided that if application to the Joint Committee be made before 15th February, 1914, Scottish members of such Societies irfay con- tinue to be regarded as constituting separate societies. Thanks to this Clause, Scottish members will, if immediate action is taken, be entitled to preserve for their own benefit any surpluses expected from the higher sickness rates or better management which may prevail in Scotland. If this option be not exercised, it is obvious that if there are surpluses derived from the contributions of Scottish members, these will be utilised to set off in some degree any less favourable conditions experienced in the administration of sickness benefit in the sister countries. It cannot therefore be too strongly urged that Scottish members should immediately consider the whole position in the light of the conditions appertaining to their entry into insurance and to the potential possibilities of Scottish experience and 82 management. The first step should take the form of availing themselves, through their branch Societies, of the proviso of Section 16 (1). If it is further wished to have districts separ= ately valued in Scotland, the second step would then be to apply under Section 40 of the original Act for association in geographical areas if their rules permit. If they do not so permit, they should be altered. This would result in achieving a separate valuation from England. Each of the groups exceeding 5,000 would also be valued separately in Scotland. If the proviso of Section 16 (1) is not excepted, then deficiencies or surpluses w ill be pooled with England. If the proviso is generally accepted such pooling is confined to Scotland. Such a process would keep the whole country (i.e., Scotland) together, would keep the whole Societies together, and still allow for local autonomy. Insurance Committees. Insurance Committees are now constituted bodies corporate and power is given them to take, purchase and hold land for the purposes of the National Insurance Act. They are also empowered under certain conditions (in accordance with a scheme to be submitted for the approval of the Commissioners) to pay to their members subsistence allowances and compensa- tion for loss of remunerative time caused by necessary attendance at Committee meeting's. Committees are also authorised to subscribe to any association of insurance Committees whose objects are approved by the Commissioners, and to pay reasonable expenses incurred by their representatives in ?ttending meetings of such associa- tions. In conclusion, the following miscellaneous provisions may be noted : — Proceedings for non-compliance with the provisions of the Act and its regulations may be taken at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal or of the Scottish Insurance Commissioners. 83 Stamp Duty is no longer exigible in respect of certain documents frequently required in the operation of the Act. Certificates of marriage recjuirtd for production in connec- tion with applications for maternity benefit are now obtainable for a fee of Is. An Approved Society may, notwithstanding that its membership is less than 50 or more than 5,000, join an associa- tion of Societies for valuation purposes. Scottish County Councils are empowered to borrow on security of the General Purposes Rate in order to obtain funds for the erection of sanatoria, and can now purchase and lease land. County Councils, which have been authorised to provide sanatoria, have now received the same powers of providing treatment for all persons suffering from tuberculosis as were formerly possessed by local authorities for the treatment of infectious diseases. The appended Schedule gives particulars of the dates upon which the various provisions of the new Act come into operation. SCHEDULE. Provision of Act. Subject Matter. Date of coming into Operation, Section 1, Sub- -Application of additional sums 12th January, 1914. section (2). contributed out of moneys provided by Parliament to- wards payment of medical attendance and treatment of certain non-insured persons. Section 3, Sub- Abolition of reduction of bene- 13th October, 1913. section (1). fits in certain cases. Section 3, Sub- Extension of Part I. of prin- 13th October, 1913, section (2). cipal Act to certain persons except for medical of age of 65, &c. and sanatorium benefits for which the date is 12th January, 1914. 84 Provision cf Act. Subject Matter. Date of coiiiinjj into Operation. Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9 Section 10, Sub- section (2). Section 12 Section 13 Section 14, Sub- section (1). Section 14, Sub- section (2). Section 14, Sub- section (3). Section 15, Sub- section (1). Section 15, Sub- section (2). Section 16 Section 20, Sub- section (1). Section 20, Sub- section (2). Section 21 Employment under local or public authority, employ- ment within meaning of principal Act. Arrears of contributions Calculation of arrears ... Benefits of exempted persons Extension of medical attend- ance and treatment to cer- tain persons not entitled under principal Act to medical benefit. Sickness benefit Commencement of sickness benefit ... Maternity benefit, " the mother's benefit." Maternity benefit ; further amendment of Section 18 (1) of principal Act. Additional maternity benefit in lieu of sickness or disable- ment benefit under Section 8 (6) of principal Act. Benefits of inmates of certain institutions. Maternity benefit of inmates of certain institutions. Provisions as to Societies hav- ing members in more than one part of the United Kingdom. Insured woman of British nationality married to an alien to be fully insured. Increase of maternity benefit of wife of insured alien, if of British nationality before her marriage. Special provision for aliens ... 1st October, 1913. 12th January, 1914. 12th January, 1914. 12th January, 1914. 12th January, 1914. 13th October, 1913. 13th October, 1913. 12th January, 1914. 13th October, 1913. 12th January, 1914. 13th October, 1913. 12th January, 1914. 13th October, 1913. 13th October, 1913. 12th January, 1914. 13th October, 1913. 85 Provision of Act. Subject Matter. Date of coming into Operation. Section 22 Extension of Section 46 of principal Act to warrant officers of marines, meaning of " soldier." 6th October, 1913. Section 32 Consultation with practitioners who have entered into agree- ments with Insurance Com- mittees. 13th October, 1913. Section 33 Local pharmaceutical com- mittee. 13t]i October, 1913. Section 43, Sub- Repeal of certain provisions of \ section (4) and principal Act, namely : Third Sciiedule Sub-section (4) of Section 1 to the extent Paragraph (a) of Sub-seclion shown in (4) of Section 4. second column. Sub-section (5) of Section 8, the words (" and at least fifty weekly contributions have been paid "). ■ 13th October, 1913. Sub-section (3) of Section 9 Proviso (i) of Sub-section (2) of Section 12. Sub-section (3) of Section 45 Section 49. Table C in Part I. of the Fourth Schedule. , Sub-section (6) of Section 10 12th January, 1914. 86 WHAT THE INSURED PERSON UNDER THE NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT SHOULD DO. CHAPTER VH. (I) CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Contribution Card. He must provide himself with a Contribution Card, so that contributions can be paid by means of Health Insurance stamps. He must present the card to his employer when the latter asks for it. As soon as the period covered by the card has elapsed, he must, after signing- it in the proper place, hand it over to his Society. If he is not a member of an Approved Society, he must hand it in at any Post Office. (b) Insurance Book. After handing in his first contribution card, he should receive an Insurance Book bearing the name of the Approved Society and the member's number, and his name, address, nationality, and occupation. In the space provided in the second page of the cover, the insured person must sign his name immediately on receiving the book. The book will show the number of contributions paid by means of stamps on the contribution card which he has surrendered. He should see that the number is correctly entered and the entry initialled on behalf of the Society. If his card for any period is not fully stamped, he may complete the stamping himself. There may be blanks because he has been out of work. If he has been out of work because of illness, his Society will not count arrears against him for 87 1 that period. If, however, he has not been ill but has been merely unemployed, arrears will be counted unless he stamps his card himself. He need only stamp the card with a stamp of the value of his own contribution, i.e., in most cases 4d. The employer is bound to return to the insured person any card in his possession (a) when the man leaves his employment ; (b) when the period covered by the card is up, or within six days thereafter ; and (c) within forty-eight hours after the insured person requests it. When an insured person leaves an employment, he must ask his employer for the return of his card. (2) JOINING A SOCIETY. Every insured person should join an Approved Society. If he does not join a Society, he cannot get more in benefits than the value of his contributions, plus the contribution of the State. A list of Approved Societies can be consulted at any Post Office. To join a Society he must fill up an Application Form which will be supplied by the Agent or Secretary of the Society or Branch he proposes to join. He must be careful to state on this form only what is strictly accurate, as the Application forms the basis of the contract betw'een him and the Society. A few days after filling up the Form and handing it in, he should, if he has received no intimation on the subject, ascertain whether the Society has accepted or rejected his application. If rejected, he should try another Society. He should take a note of the name of his Society, the name and address of the Secretary, and, if he has joined through a Branch, the name and address of the Branch and its Secretary. If he has joined through an Agent, he should note the name and address of the Agent, and also the address of the local office of the Society. He should keep a note of his 88 number in the Society. This is given in the Insurance Book, which should, of course, be always carefully preserved. In communicating with his vSociety on any question he should always quote his number. He should get a copy of the rules of the Society, and make himself acquainted with his rights and duties under them. (3) BENEFITS. Medical Benefit. To get medical attendance and treatment he should choose a doctor. A list of doctors on the panel may be consulted at any Post Office. He must fill up a form applying for the doctor of his choice. This form may be obtained from almost every chemist, or from the doctor himself. Officers of Customs and Excise and in some cases also the Approved Society can supply the forms. If the doctor accepts him, he will be on his list until the end of the current m^edical year. Towards the end of that time he will have an opportunity of changing to another doctor if he desires. Change of residence from one Insurance Committee area to another. If an insured person goes from one Insurance Committee area to another, i.e., from one large town to another, or from one county to another, he must take steps to provide himself with medical benefit in the district to which he goes. He must write a letter or a postcard to the Clerk to the Insurance Committee of the area where he goes to reside, and ask that arrangements be made to provide him with medical benefit. Address of Clerk to Insurance Committee. He can ascertain the address of the Clerk to the Insurance Committee by inquiry at any Post Office. In writing to the Clerk he must slate his full name and address, the full name and address of his Society, the address at which he formerly resided, and he must forward his medical ticket. 89 1 Change of residence within an Insurance Committee Area If he removes from one part of a town to another, or if he removes from one part of a county to another, remaining in the same Insurance Committee area, he can obtain a transfer from the Hst of his present doctor to the list of another doctor more conveniently situated to his new address. To do this, he must write, as before, to the Clerk to the Insurance Committee, giving- full particulars and forwarding his medical ticket. Complaints about medical attendance and treatment. If an insured person has any complaint to make with reference to his treatment by his doctor, he should write to the Clerk to the Insurance Committee, who will enquire into the matter. As before, he must be particular to give full informa- tion in regard to himself and his complaint. (4) SANATORIUM BENEFIT. If the insured person is suffering from consumption, he can apply for sanatorium benefit. This application must be made to the Clerk to the Insurance Committee of the area where he resides, and a form for the purpose may be obtained at the Insurance Committee office. (5) SICKNESS BENEFIT. (a) Qualification. To be qualified for sickness benefit an insured person must have been insured for twenty-six weeks, and have at least twenty-six weekly contributions paid. Before he can get sick- ness benefit he must be totally incapacitated from work, and he must be able to prove to his Society that he is totally incapacitated. (b) Procedure for claiming sickness benefit. He must make a formal claim in writing on a Declaring- on-Form, which the Secretary or Agent of his Society will give him. This form must be carefully filled up and handed in together with a medical certificate obtained from his doctor. The 90 form of Declaring--on Nate will usually be something- like the following- : — DECLARING=ON NOTE. Name of Society Branch To the Secretary, 1 hereby give notice that I was rendered incapable of work as from o'clock " '' ' on day the th p.m. ■^ day of 19 by'' |I declare that I [jhave recovered] [Jmay be entitled to recover] compensation or damages, in respect of the said injury or disease, from§ fl declare that I have not recovered, and am not entitled to recover, compensation or damages in respect of the said injury or disease. 1 enclose my Insurance Book. (Signed by or on behalf of) Nniiie No. in Society Present A ddress (If the member is unable to sign, the person signing on his behalf must add his name, and relationship, if any, here — *Here insert Illness oi Accident^ and in the case of accident state where and how it happened. 1 Delete this paragraph if inapplicable. + Delete if inapplicable. Slnsert name, address, and designation, stating whether he is employer, and, if not, for what reason the claim may be made. NOTE. — This note must be seat on the day on which the incapacity began or as soon afterwards as possible, and must be accom° panied by a Medical Certificate or such other evidence of in- capacity as the Society may require. If not sent on the first day, an explanation of the delay should be given. 91 To be answered if the Member claiming benefit is under 21. Are you nuirried ? If not, have you any members of your family dependent on you ? State their relationship and the nature of the support they receive from you. When he recovers, he must declare off the funds of the Society at once. The form of Declaring^-off Note will usually be as follows : — DECLARINGOFF NOTE. Name of Society (BrancJi) I herebj^ declare that I am now again capable of work, and declare off the funds of the Society. 1 also declare that I remained incapable of work till (date), [and claim benefit in accordance with the Society's rules for the days that have elapsed since I last received benefit] . I have not received any compensation or damages in respect of this illness. Signature of Mefnher Date (c) Points to be remembered. (1) That he is not entitled to sickness benefit unless his illness exceeds three days. (2) That the Society will require a certificate to cover the three waiting days for which he does not get payment. (3) That further certificates of continued incapacity will be required. (4) That when in receipt of sickness benefit he must observe the rule of his Society relating- to conduct during sick- ness. This rule will provide that he must not be out of doors 92 after certain hours, and, in addition to other matters, that he must obe}' the instructions of the doctor attending him. (5) That if the rules are not observed, the Society may impose penalties in the shape of fines. (6) There are other conditions laid down in the rules with regard to sickness benefit with which he should make himself acquainted. (6) MATERNITY BENEFIT. (a) Husband compulsorily insured but not the wife. If a man who is compulsorih' insured is married, he will get a maternity benefit payment of 30s. on the confinement of his wife, if he has been tw^enty-six weeks insured and twenty-six weekly contributions have been paid. He must satisfy the Society that the claim is good. He must, if required, prove by the production of a marriage certificate, or otherwise, that the woman is his wife, and that the confinement has taken place. He must fill up the form of claim to be obtained from his Society Secretary or Agent, and he must get the signatures required on the form from the doctor or the nurse who attends the confinement. The Society need not pay him the whole of the 30s. It may engage the doctor or the nurse and pay the necessary fees. The balance may be handed over to the insured person in cash, or the Society might dispose of it in the provision of food or other necessaries for the m.other and child. (b) Wife compulsorily insured but not the husband. The wife in this case is entitled to two payments of 30s., if she has been insured for twenty-six weeks, and twenty-six weekly contributions have been paid. She must not, however, go out to work for wages for at least four weeks after con- finement. 1)3 (c) Both insured. Here the man must claim maternity benefit from his vSociety and the woman will also claim maternity benefit from her Society, and must abstain from working for wages for at least four weeks after confinement. Careful note must be made of the provisions of the Amend- ing Act with regard to maternity benefit. (7) ARREARS. Arrears, if allowed to accumulate, will affect benefits. The insured person should therefore do his utmost to keep his con- tributions as much up-to-date as possible in spite of periods of unemployment. While unemployed he need only pay his own share of the contributions. In order to qualify for sickness and disablement benefit, he should remember that twenty-six contributions are required for the first and a hundred and four contributions for the second. It is very much in his interest, therefore, to get these contributions paid at the earliest pos- sible date. (8) EXCESSIVE SICKNESS & DEFICITS IN SOCIETIES. Every member of a Society should remember that he has a personal interest in saving and safeguarding the funds of the Society. If the claims are too heavy, the Society may not be able, after a valuation, to go on paying full benefits, i.e., it may have a deficit. It should be noted that a man who leaves a Society in deficit carries a proportion of the deficit with him, and will be subject to the same reduction of benefit as would have applied had he remained in his old Society. The State does not make good the deficit of any Society. (9) INSURED PERSON IN HOSPITAL. When the insured person is in hospital he does not get a direct payment of benefit. If he has any persons dependent on his earnings his Society must pay or apply the benefit to relieve 94 or maintain them. If he has no dependants and is getting- sanatorium benefit, the amount of the benefit will go to the Insurance Committee If he has no dependants and the Society has agreed with the hospital or other institution, the amount may be paid to the hospital towards his maintenance therein. Any balance remaining will go to the insured person, after leaving the institution, in cash. (10) CHANGES OF RESIDENCE. If an insured person changes his residence, he must inform his Society and make the necessary alterations on his Contri- bution Card and Insurance Book. What he must do in regard to medical benefit is noted above. If he goes abroad permanently, it is only if he has been a deposit contributor that he will be entitled to any refund of his contributions. He should, however, certainly keep in touch with his Society at home, as arrangements may be made whereby he may benefit by his insurance in this country. (11) TRANSFERS. (a) From Deposit Insurance to Approved Society. All that is required here is to get filled up the necessary form for joining the Society. The Society will take steps to arrange the transfer from the deposit contributors' class. {b) From one Society to another. The Society which he wants to join v»^ill give him an application form. When this has been filled up he will get in exchange a form agreeing to accept him as a member, if the old Society agrees to his withdrawal. The new Society will also give him a form asking the old Society to give its consent. He must fill up and forward this form to his old Society and await a reply. His old Society is entitled, on reasonable grounds, to withhold consent to his withdrawal. If he is told that consent is given, his transfer will be arranged between 95 the two Societies. If llu- old Society refuses to consent to his withdrawal, he will remain a member of that Society. He may, however, refuse to accept the decision of the old Society and appeal from it in accordance with the Society's rules as to disputes. He can bring- this appeal in the last instance to the Commissioners. (13) BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES. These can be obtained cheaply, where they are required for thi purposes of the National Insurance Act, the former for Gd., and the latter for Is. Application shouM be made .at the nearest office of the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths. FORM OF LETTER. A foim of letter which might be used by an insured person in writing to any quarter in reference to his insurance is sug-gested. (Full address and date). Sir, I am a male insured person under the National Insurance Act. I am in class A (1). My name is and I reside at I am years of age next birthday. I am a member of the (Name and address) Society, of which is the Secretary. I entered Insurance on the day of , and have paid up to the present contributions. I am married and have a family dependent upon me for support (etc., and any further relative particulars, stating fully the complaint or question on which it is desired to obtain an answer) etc. 9G APPENDIX I. SCOTTISH INSURANCE COMMISSION. Principal Office - - - 83, Princes Street, Edinburgh. Telephone No. : 8820-3 Central. Telegrams : " Benefits," Edinburgh. Accounts Brunch - - . 39, Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh. Approved Society and Exemption Branches — 42, Frederick Street, Edinburgh. Mr. JAMES LEISHMAN. Dr. J. C. McVAIL. Chairman Deputy Chairman Commissioners Secretary Mr. JOHN McNICOL. Miss MARY M. PATERSON. Mr. JOHN JEFFREY. Inspectorate and Local Offices of the Commission. Chief Inspector - - Mr. J. W. PECK, 83, Princes Street, Edinburgh. Deputy Chief Inspector Mr. S. H. TURNER, Baltic Chambers, Welling- ton Street, Glasgow. Telephone No. : 181-2 Central. Telegrams : " Beneficent," Glasgow. District. Address jf District Office, District Inspector. 1. South'Eastern ... 42, F"rederick Street, Edinburgh 2. Western ... j Baltic Chambers, 3. South= Western ... \ 50, Wellington Street, Glasgow 4. Eastern 3, Esplanade Buildings, South Union Street, Dundee 5. North'Eastern ... 25, Crown Street, Aberdeen 6. Northern ... 20, Church Street, Inverness ... Mr. J. W. Herries. Miss Allan. Mr. A. Arneil. Mr. Wm. Leitch. Mr. J. E. Highton. Mr. M. Beaton. Inspectoral Districts. No. 1. South=Eastern — compr-sing Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Hadding- ton, Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles. No. 2. Western — comprising Glasgow, Dumbarton, Stirling, and S. Argyll (county districts of M'd-Argyll. Cowall, and Kintyre). No. 3. South=Western — comprising Lanark (other than Glasgow), Ren- frew (other than Glasgow), Ayr, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries, Bute, 97 No. 4. Lastern — comprising Forfar, l-"if<-, Kinross, Clacl z > n fulfil sli^iifiHi 1 ! 8 5 1 J ■ y I f 1 1 S ¥ B 3 S>.'if » li?liiii!-'J li-"!t fJiSrjJi" i' r S i = * M- - iHf I" I? = 'l?3 f f "iTSfii!*! 3;:=iiK a-53 s J: i ^ ^ l| ^3 1 E i y ? ' S ; i lis? 1 '.11: 1 ? iir 5| . r 1 S' ISi \lh { i " = -5 I- it|l i||NS« lii I ill? lii n si llfi ? wm \ lillli'ili'ili iiiii' Iflliiflilliriiliiiiii - - I i s ? s" z tn z > H 5 z > r C 73 > Z APPENDIX II. List of addresses of OflScers of Customs and Excise in Scotland. Where no Postal Address is given, letters should be addressed to the Officer of Customs and Excise, giving also the name of the Station, for example, Dalkeith. Where there are several Stations in the same place, the number of each Station should be entered in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, as Aberdeen 1st, &c. Aberdeen. Aberdeen 1 2 3 4 1 11, King Street, Aber- ,, 5 / deen. 6 „ 7 .. 8/ Alford. — ^Alford, Aberdeen. Ballater. — -Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Culter. — Culter-Cullen, Aberdeen. Huntly. Inverurie. Jericho. — Benachie Distillery, Jeri- cho, Huntly. Kennethmont. — Kennethmont, Aber- deenshire. Old Meldrum.— Old Meldrum, Aber- deenshire. The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Kirkwall. Stromness 2. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Strom- ness, Orkney. I-erwick 1 2 3 Kirkwall 1 2 The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Lerwick. Ellon. Fraserburgh. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Fraser- burgh. Okl Deer.— Glenaden Distillery, Old Deer, Mintlaw Station, Aber- deenshire. Peterhead. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Peterhead. Strichen. — Strichen, Aberdeenshire. Banff. — The Pension Officer, Cus- toms and Excise, Banff. Buckie. — The Pension Officer, Cus- toms and Excise, Buckie. Glenglassaugh. — ■ Glenglassaugh Distillery, Portsoy, Banffshire. Turriff. Campbeltown. Bovvmore 2. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Bowmore, Islay. Campbeltown 12 — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Campbeltown. Dumfries. Castle Douglas. Dumfries 1 Irish Street, Dumfries. 101 Lockerbie. Thornhill. — 'rhoriihill, Uuinfrios. Duns 1. „ 2. Galashiels. Jedburgh. K(4Jso. Peebles. Hawick 1. M 2. Girvan. Newton Stewart. Stranraer.— :The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Stranraer. Wigtown. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Wigtown, Wigtownshire. Maybole. Annan 2. Langholm 1. 2. Dundee. The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Arbroath. Montrose. — The Pension Officer, Custom House, Montrose. Stonehaven 2. Arbroath 1 2 Brechin 2. „ 3. Carnoustie. — Carnoustie, shire. Blairgowrie. Forfar. Kirriemuir. Dundee 1 .. 2 \ 3 Forfar- 29, Bank Street, Dundee. Cupar. St. Andrews. Laurencekirk. — Laurencekirk, Kin- cardineshire. Edinburgh. ,.,. , , ,„ , 23, Forrest Road. Lduiburgh 13 . ' 1 Edinburgh. 7 9 15 ^ 14, Waterloo Place, 16 Edinburgh. 21 24 4 75, Gilmore Place, 11 12 Edinburgh. 25 J 3 22 6, Bernard Terrace, 23 2i6> Edinburgh. ■ Leith 2 \ . M 9 1 9, Wellington Place, „ 10 1 Leith. ,. 11 1 Dalkeith. Dunbar. Haddington. Musselburgh. Prestonpa ns.- -Prestonpans, East Lothian. Leith 6 — T ne Pension Officer, Custom House, Leith. Elgin. Elgin 1. „ 2. Grantown. — Grantown-on-Spey. Keith 3. Kingussie. Rothes 4. — Rothes, Morayshire. Falkirk. Bathgate 2. Bellshill.— Bellshill, Lanarkshire. 102 Motherwell. West Calder.— West Caltler, Mid lothian. Airdrie. Coatbridge. Falkirk 2. Lenzie. — Lenzie, tilasgow. Linlithgow 2. Polmont. — Poliiiont, Stirlingshire. Uphall. — Uphali, West Lothian. Carluke. Hamilton 1. 2. Lanark. Larkhall. — Larkhall, Lanarkshire. Queensferry. — South Queen sferry, West Lothian. Glasgow. Rutherglen 1 Glasgow 1 ,, 14 ,, ■Z3 ,, 46 J, 48 ,j 49 ,, 25 ,, 32 Glasgow ' 3 ,, 39 ,, 53 Glasgow 13 ,, 17 ,, 47 Maryhill I (ilasgow ■ 16 ,, 38 ,, 50 , , 51 ,, 52 44. 280 George Street, Glasgow. 9, E. Nelson Street, (ilasgow. 379, St. George's Road, Glasgow. 8, Abbotsford Place, Glasgow. -46, Milbrae Road, Langside, Glasgow, ("athrarl. — 24, .Balmoral Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow. Glasgow 21 Vokcr 39, Cathcart Street, , Rutherglen, ( Glasgow. , 4, Haylynn Street, Whiteinch, Glas- l gow. 45 427, Paisley Road West, Glasgow. (ireenock. Ayr 1 2 J Newmarket Street, Ayr. Ardrossan. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Ardrossan. Catrine. — Catrine, Ayrshire. Irvine. — The Pension Officer, Cus- toms and Excise, Irvine. ( The Pension Officer, Dumbarton 1 Customs and Ex- " '- cise, Dumbarton. Helensburgh. Port Glasgow. — The Pension Officer, Customs and Excise, Port Glasgow. Greenock 2 ^ The Pension Officer, ,, 5 -, Custom House, ,, 6 ' Greenock. Rothesay. Kilmarnock 1. 3. Beith. Johnstone. Paisley 1 6 St. Mirren Street, Paisley. Renfrew. Troon. — The Pension Officer, Cu.s- toms and Excise, Troon. Dunoon. Maurhline. — Mauchlinc, .Ayrshire. .Ardrishaig II . , • . • . ,, ^ „ Ardrishaig, Argyll. 103 Inverness. Balblair. — Balblair, Invergordon, Ross-shire. Bonar Bridge.— Bonar Bridge, Ard- gay, Ross-shiire. Brora 2.— Brora, .Sutherland. Tongue.— Tongue, Sutherland. ' Beauly. — Beauly, Inverness-shire. Dingwall 2. Fdrtrose. — Tortrose, Koss-shire. Gairloch. — (jairloch, Ross-shire. Lochcarron. — Lochcarron, Ross- shire. Invergordon.— Invergordon, Ross- shire. Ullapool.— Ullapool, Ross-shire. Inverness 4 , 58, High Street, in- M 5 ' verness. Nairn. Forres, 2. Broadford. — Broadford, Isle ot Skye. Lochboiisdale.— Lochboisdale, Isle of South Uist. Lochmaddy. Portree. Stornoway 1 The Pension Officer, >> 2 1 Customs and Ex- it 8 ( oise, Stornoway.- Lybster. — Lybster, Wick. Thurso 1. 2. Wick 2.— The Pension Officer, Cus- toms and Excise, Wick. Perth. Aberfeldy 2. Crieff. Dunferiidine 1. 2, 3. Dunkeld. Elie. — Elie, Fife. Kirkcaldy I ^ The Pension Officer, M 2 . Customs and Ex- >■ 3 ( cise, Kirkcaldy. l-adybank. Leven. Lochgelly.— Lochgelly, Fife. Perth 5 *^ ,- Tay Street, Perth. M 7 i Auchtertool. — Auchtertool, Kirk- caldy. Stirling. Fort Augustus.— Fort Augustus, In- verness-shire. Fort William 2. Mallaig.— Mallaig, Inverness-shire. Killin.— Killin, Perthshire. Oban 1. „ 2. Tobermory 1. 2. Alloa 2 ( ^'^^ Pension Officer, _ ' Customs and Excise, ( Alloa. Blackford. —Blackford, Perthshire. Dunblane. Kilsyth.— Kilsyth, Glasgow. Stirling 1 2 104 A BOOK FOR SCOTSMEN. (Tastle ^tlemories Twenty Tales of Edinburgh Castle BY J. N. OGILVIE, D.D. (3rd EDITION.) Her Majesty Queen Mary was pleased to accept a copy of " Castle Memories" when at Holyrood Palace. 4!lres$ !5totice*. "Just such a book as strangers visiting the Castle often vainl\ wish for." — Scotsman. "A capital booU. . . . Dr. Ogilvie makes his stories full of human interest, and reclothes the drj' bones of history witn flesh and blood." — Edinburgh Evening News. " Distinguished by literary charm, and a fresh and direct method." — Scotia. " Dull, indeed, were the Scot who does not feel his spirit stirred by such a record." — Weekly Scotsman. "Dr. Ogilvie has materially addeil to the fine bibliography already associated with the Capital of Scotland."- — Aberdeen Daily Journal. W. F. HENDERSON, bookseller an6 "publisber, 9, GEO. IV. BRIDGE, EDINBURGH. (And ail Booksellers.) Tf^vH '"""low. UNIVERSITY OF CAL* i^JlA AT LOS ANGELES Ut: SdlilHi l-;fi lUlilUNAI l IhHAI AA 000 958 998 7