§ Mr. WHELERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that a Government lecturer addressed a meeting of the local friendly societies on the National Insurance Act at the Salem Institute, Hunslet, Yorkshire, on the 26th March, and that the meeting was a private one, being only for those persons to whom tickets were sent; and whether any charge was made for the services of the lecturer employed under such conditions?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe hon. Member presumably refers to the first of a course of twelve explanatory lectures, commencing on the date mentioned, at the Salem Institute, Hunslet Road, Leeds, which were arranged for officials and accredited representatives of organisations likely to become, or to assist in the formation of, approved societies. Notices were widely circulated to the Press, as well as to societies direct beforehand, inviting applications for tickets, and tickets were, in fact, issued to representatives of over 100 different organisations, including trade unions, friendly societies, collecting and dividing societies, and others.