The working of the National Insurance Act was frankly discussed
at the Whitsuntide conference of the Friendly Societies. The most drastic criticism came from the Grand Master of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, who, speaking at Scarborough on Monday, condemned the haste with which the scheme had been brought into operation. The last ten months had been a period of scramble, misgiving, and anxiety to everyone concerned. There had been a growing tendency to discourage individual effort, to lower personal obligation, and to create a sense of dependence on the community, not only among the very poor, but also among the fairly well-to-do people in regular employment. Again, the societies were now called upon for more work in connexion with medical benefits than they had ever had to do before, and yet their admini- strative income was depleted to pay for the extravagant administration of medical or sanatorium benefits by insurance committees, " which apparently could not escape from the taint of expensive officialism." The directors had reported that the administration of medical benefit under the Act was more troublesome, less efficient, and less economical than before, the setting up of four Commissions having seriously affected societies with branches in all parts of the United Kingdom.
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