Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1740277147

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-132094

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Stationery Office

Year of publication:: 1926

Scope:: XII, 394 S.

Digitisation:: 2020

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter VIII. The approved society system

Collection:: Economics Books

108 MAJORITY REPORT. 234. It is, therefore, not surprising that those who are not drawn to the older Societies by their interest in other matters should be content to leave their insurance affairs in the hands of Societies which make the minimum demands on their time and attention. Nor is there any great harm—and there may be some advantage—in the existence of such Societies, provided they are efficiently and economically managed, and that their constitu- tion furnishes effective means for the control of the Society's affairs by the members should occasion arise. On this last point there is clearly room for improvement, and we recom- mend that in connexion with the general review of the rules of Societies, to which we refer later in this Chapter, any Society whose present rules are found not to provide an effective means by which the members can exercise control, if they desire to do so, should be required to amend its constitution in this respect. 235. One last point on the real social significance of self- government. The question as it arises in connexion with Health Insurance is sometimes spoken of in terms of insured persons looking after their own affairs. This is, we think, to misconceive the point. It may be doubted whether those members, whose zeal in the administration of their Societies is rooted in a desire to look after their own affairs, will in fact approach the task in the right spirit. Rather will these tend to be valetudinarians. It is truer to regard the administration of a Society as offering an opportunity for puklic service in the interests of others, and it is safe to say that the great bulk of those who are engaged in the administration of those Societies with older traditions behind them are not in fact consciously looking after their own affairs. They are there because they desire to find some useful work which they can do for their fellows. Democracy is a means and not an end in itself, and it is not, therefore, to be condemned for relative shortcomings, so long as it is in some measure an efficient means to that greater end for which it is designed. If it be permissible in these days to quote an eminent Victorian, it should be remembered that ‘‘ the business of life is an essential part of the practical educa- tion of a people.” The fact that there are other channels by which a similar training in administration and affairs may be obtained cannot, except by the intolerant, be urged as a reason for despising the contribution which voluntary Friendly Societies make to our public life. All things do not appeal to all men, and diversity of opportunity in such education cannot but enrich the Commonwealth. SUPERVISION OF APPROVED SOCIETIES BY THE CENTRAL DEPARTMENTS. 236. Under the Act of 1911 Societies, when once approved, were given almost complete autonomy, and although it appeared

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