In all cases the supervision is continued as long as it is required, but where relatives are found to be competent and willing to take charge of children the responsibility is left to them.

Such work, concerned as it is with the young and the helpless, seems peculiarly suited to women.  The Public Trustee in his evidence before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, stated that the women already appointed had proved themselves “most efficient.”

The National Health Insurance Commissions.

The Inspectors appointed by the National Health Insurance Commissions are so recent an institution that it is not yet possible to say whether the work to be performed by this Department will afford scope for the employment of a large number of educated women.

It is satisfactory to note, however, that the salaries of men and women more nearly approximate to equality than in any previous appointments.  The salaries of the Women Commissioners in all four countries are the same as those of the men, viz., L1,000 per annum.

The English Commission has 10, the Scotch 1, and the Irish 1 Woman Inspector at L300-10-L400.  Men Inspectors begin at the same salary but rise to L500.

The English Commission has 25, the Welsh 3, the Scotch 5, and the Irish 4 Assistant Women Inspectors at L100-10-L300.  Men Assistant Inspectors begin at the same salary, but after two years they rise by L15 to L350.

The English Commission has 19, the Welsh 1, the Scotch 5, and the Irish 5 Women Health Insurance Officers, on a scale of salary L80-5-L110, after two years rising by L7, 10s. to L150.  This scale is precisely the same as that of Men Health Insurance Officers.

The duties of Men and Women Inspectors and Officers under the National Health Insurance Commission are identical in character and scope.

The primary function of these officers is to impose upon the whole adult population the new conditions created by the Act—­i.e., they have to ensure the proper payment of contributions in respect of all persons liable to be insured.

Trades are assigned to Men or Women Inspectors according as a trade employs men or women in greater numbers.

The Insurance Commissioners work through the Inspectors in all matters that are more susceptible to local treatment than to treatment by correspondence.  The Inspectors obtain information and make local enquiries as to the facts in cases submitted to the Commissioners for determination under various sections of the Act.

An interesting account of the very varied duties which fall to the lot of these Officers will be found in the first “Report on the Administration of the National Insurance Act,” Part I., which has recently been published.  The following extract from that Report will give some idea of the work done by the Women Inspectors, and the estimate which has been formed of it.