MAJORITY REPORT. 
and the Approved Societies as agencies for the administration 
of the health and cash benefits, respectively. So far as Approved 
Societies are concerned, this is not so much one question as a 
whole group of questions calling for careful consideration from 
many different angles, 
GENERAL SATISFACTION WITH THE SCHEME, 
28. All these grounds of criticism, as well as the suggestions 
received by us in connection with various details of the Scheme 
and our proposals for its modification and extension, are 
dealt with in the succeeding chapters of our Report. In 
this place we have restricted ourselves to summary mention 
of these points in order to give a preliminary view of the problems 
before us. We can, however, say at once that we are satisfied 
that the Scheme of National Health Insurance has fully justified 
itself and has, on the whole, been successful in operation. The 
workers of this country have obtained under it. substantial 
advantages, in particular by securing the title to free medical 
attention and medicine whenever and as soon as these are 
required, and by the proportionate diminution, to the extent of 
the cash benefit granted, of their anxiety as to the loss of wages 
during illness. Furthermore, the Scheme has, on the whole, 
been satisfactorily administered, notwithstanding the difficulties 
and antagonisms at the outset, and the peculiar and urgent 
problems which arose when vast numbers of men left insurable 
employment for the theatres of war and their place in the 
industries of the country was taken by women entering insur- 
ance, consequently, for the first time. The contributions have 
been collected and the benefits provided with a marked degree 
of efficiency. We are convinced that National Health Insurance 
has now become a permanent feature of the social system of 
this country, and should be continued on its present compulsory 
and contributory basis. At the same time, if the Scheme is 
to be made of the fullest advantage to the health and well-being 
of the nation, there are, in our opinion, various modifications 
and extensions that could, with advantage, be made, as and 
when opportunity offers and funds become available