THE INSURANCE BILL AND THE "PEOPLE'S BUD GET."
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In a preface to a book entitled "The People's Budget," dated November 20th, 1909, Mr. Lloyd George wrote as follows :— " The Budget undertakes to raise money for financing far- ieaching schemes to provide against the evils that befall a workman and his family when sickness attacks the breadwinner, or when he is temporarily out of a job owing to fluctuations of trade or fashion. The Budget has made provision, full and liberal, for doing so. . . . A provision against privations from unemployment is essential also. The Budget has made a double provision of that kind. It finds the money for setting up a scheme of insurance which will keep above want the workman and his family until the evil day is passed."
Now, Sir, how is it that after these splendid promises Mr. Lloyd George proposes again to tax the community (and employers and workpeople especially) to find those very funds which his celebrated Budget was to provide a "full andliberal" provision ? If the "People's Budget " can perform the promises held out, then the Insurance Bill is not needed. If it cannot, then surely the people were beguiled into voting for the Budget by pledges and promises which were never to be performed. A great part of the heavy taxation imposed by that Budget was therefore without justification.—I am, Sir, &c., Sackville House, Barnsley.
W MAUDSLAY.
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