§ 23 and 24. Mr. CLANCYasked, with reference to the case of the Great Southern and Western Railway (Ireland) Employés' Benefit Society (23), whether the Irish Insurance Commissioners are aware that the committee of this society has not been elected by the general body of the employés, but of such members of the old sick fund as agreed to the proposed rules of the new society mentioned and expressed such agreement on a form issued to them and signed by the general manager of the company; and, if they are not so aware and if the fact is as stated, whether such a society will be held to be properly constituted from the point of view of the National Insurance Act; (24) whether the Irish Insurance Commissioners have yet inquired into the allegation that the company have been forcing their employés into membership of that society by prescribing that no person shall be continued as a member unless he joins the State section of the society which becomes approved by the Insurance Commissioners; whether the Commissioners are aware that the first proposal of the committee of workers was to leave it optional with the employés to join either section of the society as each person might choose, and that this proposal was overruled by the company through their general manager; and, if they are aware of the truth of those allegations-whether they will sanction the State insurance section of the society as an approved society and thus condone a direct attempt to deprive the employés of the company of their right freely to select the approved society or societies to which they wish to belong?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe application for approval is now being considered and full inquiries are now being made into the circumstances alleged by my hon. Friend. I think it would be undesirable to make a further statement while the application is still under consideration by the Commissioners, but the Commissioners will in any case take precautions to ensure (hat the spirit of the Act is not contravened by any of the rules subject to their approval.
§ Mr. CLANCYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government would approve of any action of the Commissioners which would tend to force workers into particular insurance societies?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, the great object of the Commissioners is to prevent, in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Insurance Act, workers being forced into any particular society.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Commissioners have already sanctioned societies the joining of which has been made a condition of service?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, I do not think so.
§ Mr. HUDSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the Great Southern and Western Railway ceased to make membership in their sick fund part of their contract of service?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThat I cannot say at the present moment. The whole matter has been fully gone into by the Irish Commissioners, and no approval has been given.