§ 18. Mr. HICKS BEACHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether many industrial insurance companies and trade unions are advising employed contributors that, even if they have applied for membership and been accepted as members by an approved society under the National Insurance Act, and although their insurance cards and books have been made out by and registered in the books of an approved society, they may nevertheless hand their stamped cards to any other approved society; that some insurance companies and unions are even threatening to send round and collect such cards at the end of the thirteen weeks; and whether he will take steps to put a stop to such a practice, which would entail considerable hardship on the society which has had all the trouble of preparing the original cards and books of those Contibutors?
§ Mr. MASTERMANAlthough the Commissioners will be prepared to regard the presentation of a card through a society as sufficient primâ facie evidence in favour of that society's claim to the provisional credit of a reserve value in respect of the contributor to whom the card belongs, yet if any claim to that member is made by any other society the Commissioners will investigate the circumstances, and credit will finally be given in accordance with the facts disclosed. Any such attempt as described by the hon. Member involves a breach of the Regulations and an attempt to claim credit improperly will expose those making it to the penalties prescribed in the Act. Persons who, having joined a society, desire to transfer to another, must give due notice of their intention of withdrawing to the society which they wish to leave.
§ Mr. BOOTHAre we to understand the right hon. Gentleman accepts this state- 676 ment with regard to insurance companies and trade unions as having any foundation at all?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI take no responsibility for any statement contained in the question.