MAJORITY REPORT 
403 
but also of the Societies, which have a direct and legitimate 
interest in the claims upon their funds for sickness and disable- 
ment benefits. We cannot but feel that statistical inquiries of 
the kind for which the present investigation has provided the 
opportunity may be of the greatest value in aiding efficient 
administration, and we would recommend the systematic institu- 
tion of such inquiries, to be followed, systematically also, by 
conference with the Societies upon such features of apparent 
significance as the inquiries may reveal. 
177. The importance of this subject is emphasised by con- 
sideration of the Committee’s Report in another aspect. We 
shall proceed immediately to discuss the margin in the contribu- 
tions which the Committee find to be available for new purposes, 
and we shall be compelled to indicate at various points in this 
Report that we are restricted, in our recommendations as to 
various extensions, by the comparatively small sum which 
remains after provision has been made for certain additional 
liabilities which must in any case be met. It was, perhaps, too 
early in the history of the Scheme, especially having regard to 
the abnormal conditions which have prevailed for a considerable 
part of the time during which it has been in operation, to have 
expected that the question of the margin in the contributions 
could be permanently settled at the present time ; and from this 
point of view we might reasonably look forward to the results of 
another investigation after further experience, under more settled 
conditions, has been gained. But it is evident that if the upward 
tendency in certain of the claims for money benefit cannot be 
brought under control, there is little prospect of more money 
being released for new purposes at a later date. It is clear that 
the best interests of the Scheme would be served if a basis for 
hope, in this connexion, could be developed. Considering the 
beneficial results on the health of the insured community which 
ought to follow from the medical service provided by the Act, 
and considering also the general advance in the education of the 
people and the greater appreciation of hygienic conditions which, 
as a result, is being disseminated, we feel that it is not unreason- 
able to look for improved conditions so far as the claims are 
concerned. But we realise that such an improvement may not 
be fully secured without a general and definite endeavour to 
keep the claims within their proper limits, regard being had, of 
course, to the just and equitable treatment of the insured persons. 
Systematic attention to the statistical results of the Approved 
Societies’ work would assuredly promote the realisation of that 
improvement and should accordingly be given a prominent place 
among the matters of administration to which the attention of 
the Departments and the Societies is continuously directed. 
178. The effect of the Committee’s proposal, so far as relates 
to the contribution payable to the Benefit Fund is to reduce the