The debate upon the Insurance Bill ban continued under
the closure resolutions during the week. On Friday week and on Monday the discussion as to the constitution of approved societies was continued. On Tuesday Clause 32 was reached, which deals with the highly controversial question of the Post Office contributors. Mr. Sherwell moved that this part of the scheme should be provisional, and on its present lines it should continue in operation for three years only, He argued that the benefits conferred on the very poor and unhealthy fell far short of what was needed. He suggested that inducements should be offered to the friendly societies not to reject appli- cants merely on medical grounds. There ought also to be an extension of sanatorium benefits. A violent criticism of the proposals in the Bill was made by Mr. Lansbury. The Bill was foredoomed to failure because after it had been passed the poor would still have to live in slums. The proper course to take would be to extend our Public Health legislation. Among further critics from all parts of the House was Mr. Lyttelton, who said that the Bill would make the poor and weak contri- bute unnecessarily for the benefit of the strong and healthy.
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