§ Mr. COOPERasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of 1848W persons who had voluntarily insured on the last date for which he has particulars?
§ Mr. MASTERMANBetween 13,000 and 14,000 first quarter's voluntary contributors' cards have been received, but others are due from some of the big centralised societies. Voluntary contributors (as distinct from employed contributors) are able to choose their own time for entering insurance; and under Section 5 of the Act they could join (if under forty-five) at any time within six months of the commencement of the Act without increase of contributions or reduction of benefits. No close estimate of the actual number of voluntary contributors can therefore be formed until the second quarter's cards are returned.