215

MAJORITY REPORT.

tributor. If a woman remains at work for a full year from the
date of her marriage without eight consecutive weeks’ absence,
she becomes permanently exempt from transfer to the special
class of insurance and on subsequently ceasing work at any time
she is subject to the ordinary provisions of the Act and is entitled
to a free year’s insurance from the date of ceasing employment
as in the case of other insured persons. It will be observed that
under this procedure the woman's transfer to the special class of
insurance depends on easily ascertainable facts, and that the
consideration of * intention,” so unsatisfactory in practice. is
eliminated.
515. The special benefits provided under the Act for women
who cease work on or about the time of marriage are as
follows :—

(1) Sickness or disablement benefit at the rate of 7s. 6d.
a week for a maximum period of six weeks during a period
of one year from the ** date of unemployment ”” (i.e., the
end of the eight consecutive weeks of unemployment).
(2) Medical benefit for a year from the end of the halfyear
 in which the ** date of unemployment > falls.
(3) A single ‘maternity benefit of 40s. on the first confinement
 after the ¢ date of unemployment,” provided that
such confinement occurs within two years after the date of
marriage.
(4) Any additional benefits provided under the scheme
made by the Society of which the woman is a member, so
far as these are applicable to her case
516. We have received no criticism of the nature of the
benefits under this special scheme of insurance, but we have had
criticism on other grounds from several sources. For instance,
the National Conference of Industrial Assurance Approved
Societies (App. VI, 15-16; Q. 4999-5059) and the Prudential
Approved Societies (App XXI, 6; Q. 9677-9683) stated that
the present provisions were complicated and difficult to
administer, and suggested that every insured woman who marries
should be allowed to exercise an option between the two following
 alternatives :—
(1) To receive a cash payment; in which case her
insurance would terminate whether or not she remained in
employment ; or
(2) To be treated in the same way as any other person
who ceases employment, i.e., to be given a continued title
to all cash benefits for 12 months after ceasing work and to
medical benefit for a further period.

517. Other witnesses, e.g., the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows
 (App. VII, 63; Q. 5843-5845) and the Rational Association
 Friendly Society (App. IX, 24: Q. 6513-6515. 6527-6532,