THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10269, 11 February 1899, Page 8

THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN.

«. (PKKSS ASSOCIATION TKLKGRAM-) DUNEDIN, February 10. A large meeting was held in the Garrison Hall tliis evening for the presentation of an address to the Premier in recognition of his efforts in passing the Old Age Pensions Bill into law. The Mayor, Mr Swan, occupied the chair, and the presentation was made by* Mr Belcher, President of the Workers* Political Committee. Mr Seddon. in returning thanks, said that in the legislation for the inauguration of the pensions scheme a chord had been touched that reached the heart of every right-think-ing person in the colony. This was a question above all party. Humanity demanded that assistance should be given by the strong to the weak; at the same time, it must be proved stop by step that there was a necessity for the legislation, and that the country was hi a position to render this assistance. They luid been told that the scheme would cost half a million per annum, but he liad said, and maintained, that if it cost £150,000 that would be the extent of the demand on the finances of tho colony. The State had already made provision to the extent of £220.000 to meet the dynand in anticipation of the pensions proposals becoming law. The fact's ascertained were that 9015 claims had been registered, and 2875 had been granted, to date. He was within reasonable limits in saying that 10 per cent, might be taken off the total number of claims made, and, making allowance for partial pensions, the total might be roughly reduced to 8000; and that brought the oust well within the calculations he had submitted to Parliament. With three quarters of a million people in the colony he doubted whether a single soul with the interest of humanity at heart would question, the advisability of paying that £150.000. As Uolonial-Treasurer, he said the claims that had come in were well within his calculations, and the moneys required were already in the Treasury, anu no money would be paid out more cheerfully than the J old age pensions. There was a time in the history of the colony when they could not have "forced on an Old Age Pensions Bill; j for in 1887, the records of the colony showed that in future only men capable of performing • a day's labour were to be employed on relief works, and those unable to do a day's work should obtain charitable j aid. In those days of 3s 6d and 2s 6d per I day for unemployed, and shelter sheds, there was no use in talking of the introduction of an Old Age Pension Bill. It was oidy when prosperity came, and the position of the colony and its resources were fully proved, that it was safe for them to pass legislation. He quoted statistics of the progress for the past ten years in proof of the assertion that the colony was perfectly able to stand the burden. He claimed that tiie pas-sing of the Pensions Act liad advertised the colony, had shown what it was ' capable of doing in the interests of humanity, and had helped to lioat the million loan. Not 5 per cent, ot the claimants had obtained assistance from the Charitable Aid Boards, and in face of the proved fact that men and women who had made the colony what it was liad been wanting the necessaries of life, he maintained that all opposition to the legislation ought be a thing of the past. A vote of thanks to the Premier and of continued confidence in the Government was carried without a dissenting voice.