§ 22. Mr. WILKIEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that an agent of the Prudential Assurance approved society for men has taken the insurance book and stamped contribution card of an apprentice shipwright named Lachlan M'Lean, residing at The Cross, Duntocher, Scotland, such card having been taken from his mother's house without his consent, he having previously made the Ship-constructive and Shipwrights' Association his approved society, and from whom he received his State contribution card and book; will he institute 99 inquiries into the case with a view to the return of the book and card; and, if any expense is incurred thereby, will he see that such shall be paid by the Prudential Assurance approved society?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have made inquiries in this case. The Prudential approved society for men has a form of application for membership in the name of the insured person in question dated ten days earlier than his application to the Ship-constructive and Shipwrights' Association, and the information before me does not confirm the allegation that the insurance book and card were taken without his consent.
§ Mr. BOOTHCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the agent's name was Mr. Frew; whether there is any evidence that he used the slightest pressure upon the insured person to leave his union, and whether a man may not be a member of a union and at the same time a member of an insurance society?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI know nothing about the agent's name. As to the last part of the question, certainly, that is so. The evidence given to me is an application to join the society, signed by the man himself, before he applied to join the union.