MAJORITY REPORT.

incapacity. If the Commission could see their way to recommend
 something like that, I think it would be a great boon to
persons, say, between 50 and 60 years of age who normally
anticipate being laid up for a few days in each year.’’
(Q. 23,481-23,482.)
486. We are convinced that the Section as at present worded is
severe in operation, especially in the case of the person who
suffers from mo more than the average amount of sickness each
year.

487. We therefore recommend that Section 13 (5) of the Act
should be amended so as to provide that in determining whether
an illness is to be treated as a continuation of a former illness,
no account shall be taken of any short periods of illness
amounting in the aggregate to not more than six days in the
twelve months immediately preceding the commencement of the
later illness. This recommendation probably involves no increase
of cost in the aggregate since the claim in respect of the illness
next following the year in which there have been no more than
six days of benefit will be subject to a three days’ waiting period—
a condition which does not apply at present.

INMATES OF INSTITUTIONS.

_ 488. It is provided in Section 17 of the Act that where an
insured person having no dependants is during illness an inmate
of a workhouse, hospital, aslylum or similar institution supported
out of public funds, or by a charity or voluntary subscriptions,
no payment of sickness or disablement benefit is to be made
to him while he is in the institution, but that the money may be
applied in various ways, and that any balance not so applied is
to be payable to him on leaving the institution, or to his legal
representatives in the event of his death in the institution. We
have been informed that the balances so payable have in many
cases accumulated to very considerable sums. As an illustration,
We may refer to the table submitted by the Hearts of Oak Benefit
Society. (App. IV, 161.)
480. Several witnesses have suggested to us that some limit
should be placed on the amount of accumulated money which
should be payable to an insured person or to his legal representatives
 in such cases. The Hearts of Oak Benefit Society suggest.
that the maximum accumulation should be £50, and that any
further balance should remain in ‘the Society’s Benefit Fund
(App. TV, 158-173; Q. 3250-3258, 3337-3340, 3435-3437). The
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows suggest that the maximum should
be the equivalent of twelve months’ benefit, approximately £29
(App. VII, 70-72; Q. 5902). The Group of Catholic Approved
Societies do not go so far, but suggest that provision should be
ade for the disposal on the death of the insured person, of the