OLD=AGE PENSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 220, 10 June 1908, Page 5

OLD=AGE PENSIONS.

AN OBJECTION. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES AND THRIFT. BENEFITS BARRED. BT TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. (Rcc. Juno 9, 10.45 p.m.) London, Juno 9. Tho Whit Monday Oddfellows' Conferences worn strong avorso to the income limit of ton shillings a week (for purposes of old-,-igo pension), including' tho sick benefit and distress and friendly societies. Tho ground of objection is that such a provision will hinder thrift, and will prove detrimental to friendly societies. Most of tho delegates favoured a contribu'tory Bchomo of old-age pensions, and the lowering of the ago limit, to G5 years.

OVER FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE CONCERNED. Tho possession of an income of 10s. a week, or, in tho case of a married couple, of 15s. a wefk, debars a person, otherwise qualified, from receiving Mr. Asquitli's old ago pension. It is estimated that there are in England and Wales. 58,000 persons in receipt of.. pensions from . friendly societies or trade unions; and Mr. Asquith has been urged to exempt persons in receipt of such grants from the in-como-limit disqualification. The friondly so--cieties urge that the disqualification will discourage thrift, and thus militato against their essential principles. They would sooner get a higher pension, or got it sooner, by means of a contributory scheme. On the other hand/ tho Labour leaders are against; a, contributing basis, and claim a-universal pension. Out of 2,116,000 persons over tho age of G5 years in the United Kingdom, Mr. Asquith's scaenie attempts to reach'only . 500,000. ,