28 FEBRUARY 1914, Page 2

In the Commons on Wednesday Mr. Hamilton moved for the

appointment of an impartial and competent Committee to inquire into the working of the Insurance Act. He sug- grated that the Committee should inquire into the possibility and desirability of making the contributions voluntary. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald agreed that inquiry was necessary, but would exclude the question of a voluntary system. Mr. Worthington Evans effectively criticized the finance of the Act and asked the Chancellor two questions : Could he assure the House or the country that all the doubts thrown by those working the Act on its actuarial basis were groundless, and could be assert categorically that in every well-managed society the minimum benefits for men and women were safe and secure P