OLD AGE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9124, 7 June 1895, Page 6

OLD AGE.

TO THE EDITOK OF THE PRESS.

Sir, —Some twenty years back there lived a rich lady ia England, who was taking? her usual walk on a cold frosty afternoon, accompanied by her waiting maid. On observing the icicles hanging to the thatch of a poor woman's hut she turned to her maid and said "Jane, remind mc when I get home to send some blankets to the poor." While she was seated in her easy chair before a cheerful fire in a luxuriously furnished room, with a glass of wine negus at) her elbow, her maid entering said "If you please, my ilady, you told mc to remind you to send some blankets to the poor." The lady replied "I think the weather is greatly changed since I returned, I will postpone sending any for the present."

The inhumanity of man makes many thousands mourn, the selfishness and greed of the well-to-do class, espec ally those who are in a position of honour, without salary, make them, with very few exceptions, unable to feel for the old and infirm, though they spend the fruits of tho.e who have used, their energy and muscle to the last, aud whose money is squandered, by those whom the world terms " gentlemen," who neither plough, sow, or reap, but their work v subterfuge, doub'e-dealing, craftiness towards the non-gentlemen ; and when the last effort is expended, $ are cast similar to their old shoes, which they were delighted and pleajed to wear when new. Now I will illustrate my own case. I have served the Crown faithfully in ali parts of the world for twenty-seven years, for which service the Imperial Government granted mc a nominal pension, and in New Zealand though sixteen years under the Government I was dismissed when unable to perform my duties through temporary illness. After a time I applied to my late employer and was treated with silent contempt. Such is the general reward for a faithful servant. When the Government's gentlemen have got all or as much as they can out of a menial (as they term him) they cast him adrift, the same as they would an old boot, not even trying to mend him, but obtaining another at greater expense. A friend now serving the New Zealand Government nearly thirty years is nearly worn out, andwwil t be dismissed at the first favourable opportunity. Another old shoe worn out! Labour is the menial's estate, and has a value to him according to his abilities or work performed, but when the Government or their many representatives employ him a price is laid down, which he is compelled to put up Avith, though very often not acquainted at the time of engagement with the amount he is to receive. Therefore, they are in duty bound to support him, nob having allowed him to provide for his old age while serving. This is the view of an old man aged sixty-seven with regard to pensions for the aged, for the dirty hands with a clean heart who are toiling for the tnooyed class.—Yours, &c., Wbca Zptertbs.