We venture to go even further than Sir Edwin Stockton
and to say that not only will the Prime Minister be on safe ground if he acts, but he will find himself on very unsafe ground if he does not act. We ask him to trust his own mind in this respect and not to be frightened, as we understand is the present mood of his party, at the headshakings of actuaries and accountants. In a matter so serious the professional bogeys which they raise should not be allowed a Tribunitian veto. To say this, however, does not mean that the financial side does not matter. It matters beyond everything. What we ask is (1) That the Broad Scheme or similar scheme shall be accepted in principle. (2) That an exact cal- culation shall be made of what we at present spend from public funds, imperial and local, on providing security from those evils against which we want to sec the working Classes assured. (3) That the workers of this country shall be given whatever benefits it will be possible to give them on that sum of money. (4) That no extra cost to the taxpayer and ratepayer shall be incurred, though such further benefits as can be obtained by a reasonable extra contribution by the employers, and also by the workers, shall be given. We have only one thing more to say, and that is to remind the Government of two things. In giving security to the working classes they are fighting Socialism with the most efficient weapon existing, and that-" All-in" Insurance will kill the Poor Law. And if we do not kill the Poor Law, the Poor Law will kill us.
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