WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1896, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. >

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day. The Conference of Friendly Societies which it has boen decided to hold to consider the question of old age pensions, it is to be hoped will be productive of much good. The case of tho man in Canterbury, who had been a colonist of over forty years standing, and who felt tho necessity of ending his life, is an eloquent plea fur some action being taken in the matter. The subjecb of old age pensions will, if the opinion very genorally expressed, is to bo taken ac a guide, bo one amongst others on which tho next general election will bo fought. In this connection I believe the Government have a well thought out scheme in reserve, tbe details of which will no doubt be disclosed ab the opportune time. Ib can hardly be said that the Wellington City Council are over grateful for tho endeavours on the part of l;ho Government to probecb tho citizens' property in the case of an outbreak of hostilities. Ab the recent meeting the Mayor waa nigh speechless with astonishment at the Government's temerity in proposing to erect a forb on one of che heights in the Botanical Gardens, of which the Council has control. One Councillor gravoly announced thab tho erection of the forb would have the effect of depreciating tbo value of property in the vicinity. Shades of Wellington and Bonaparte. On what evil time we have fallen !