National health insurance

Abstract

To the majority of people interest in Social Insurance begins and ends in stamping cards for their employees, and that interest does not appear to be sufficiently enterprising or inquisitive to examine into the objects for which the cards are stamped or into the causes which make the stamping a necessity. I am aware that the members of the Statistical Society give consideration to such important questions, and I am also aware that many of the members may be considered experts on the subject before us this evening, namely, Social Insurance. Still it appears to me that a short discussion on the question cannot but be beneficial if it would attract the attention of the public and stimulate an interest in Social and Industrial Welfare questions. In a short paper like the present one I cannot hope to do more than touch the fringe of this problem, simply stating the causes which make Social Insurance a necessity, and referring briefly to the remedies so far attempted and to the further remedies suggested.