§ Mr. LEES SMITHasked whether the prohibition which prevents collectors of collecting societies and industrial assurance companies from taking part in the members' meetings of the separate sections of these societies formed under the National Insurance Act depends upon the Collecting Societies and Industrial Assurance Companies Act of 1896 or upon regulations of the Insurance Commissioners?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am advised that if the collector acted as a collector within the meaning of the Collecting Societies and Industrial Assurance Companies Act, 1896, for the separate section this prohibition would follow necessarily from the terms of Section 8 of that Act.
§ Mr. LEES SMITHIn view of the fact that the clerk and other paid officials of these insurance companies are less able to give an independent vote will the right hon. Gentleman extend to them by Regulation the conditions which the Act proposes to impose upon collectors?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIf my hon. Friend will put a question concerning the clerks I will endeavour to answer it.
§ Mr. BOOTHDoes my hon. Friend think clerks or officials should be boycotted or persecuted in this way, or have their rights denied them under the Act?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo, they are not being persecuted, and we are not denying 794 them any of their rights. It is simply a legal interpretation of an Act at present in force.