OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10132, 3 September 1898, Page 4

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

+ A SCHEME BY MR ROLLESTON. (By Telegraph.) (from our spkciat, correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 2. Mr Rolleston, speaking on the Old Age Pensions Bill to-night, gave his ideas of the lines on which the Bill should be arafted. He would not, however, move an amendment; but he "hoped that when the Bill was in committee, his suggestions would be adopted. His ideas were: —(1) That the necessity for making provision for old age, sickness, and indigence by a scheme of pensions, simultaneously with an. amended -system of charitable aid, which will deal with poverty and misfortune upon well-de-fined principles, demands the earnest and immediate attention of the Legislature. (2) That the proposals of the Old Age Pensions Bill, which fix the age of 65 as that at which pensions may be claimed under the conditions imposed by the Bill, would leave a very large number of the working classes engaged in mining and unsanitary occupations unprovided for, and fail of attaining the objects of the measure. (3) That the conditions attached to the granting of pensions under the Bill are not such as to promote self-reliance and encourage the population of the country in making due efforts to secure a competence and independence in their old age, and would be at once demoralising to the community, and unjust to the industrious taxpayer. (4) That old age pensions, should form a part.of a..general .schema., dealing with the provisions to be made by the Legislature—(a) To assist and encourage those capable of helping themselves, to secure a competence to old age on a basis of a contribution to a provident fund, and i (b) to place the administration of what is [called the.charitable aid law, in respect of those unable to help themselves, on a more just and equitable basis by classific'atiou, according to the merits and varying circumstances of the recipients of State assistance. (5) That old age pensions should ba granted as supplementary to, and contingent upon, the recipients having earned an allowance by contributing in earlier years to a pension fund as members of a friendly society, trades union, or private company approved of by "the Government as a solvent institution, the contribution being paid in accordance with tables actuarially prepared. Such allowance would then be supplemented by the State to sucb an extent as to bring; the total pension, the joint result of th—* beneficiaries' own efforts, and the supplementary assisfcanoe of the State, to a total of i say 10s per week. (6) That the scope of the Government Life Insurance Department' should be extended, and tables constructed! under which pensions may be earned, varying with the age at which they are claimed, I on an actuarial basis, and supplemented by the State. (7) That tables should be, pre- j paved, under which contributions made in. early years may earn an annuity, to, be sup-' plemented within; certain' limits by the, State. (8) The system of penny saving* banks, for which provision was. made Education- Act,- 187T, should-be revised/andencouragement offered by this means to thrift and providence. (9) with thtf old age pensions,* a system of cot-" tage homes should be instituted", by which provision will be made for thejrecepfton of pensioners under the supervision"©'! the local authorities or charitable agencies. *