OLD AGE PENSIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1898, Page 2

OLD AGE PENSIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin — Will you kindly allow me to say a few words in answer to your correspondent " Otho," and to show the position of those who think that an old a#e pension without relation to thrift is a necessity to save this colony aud this generation from the barbarous disgrace that rests upon our predecessors ? W r e regard all efforts to make poor men contribute more than they now do through taxation to old .age funds as a subtle, and cunning effort to lake off the shoulders of the wealthy the small contributiou they make at present towards the charitable support of the a£(ed workers ; in fact, the effort is to make the poor keep the poor. It is worthy of the black-coated committees that report in England and elsewhere on the subject that they have no recommendation to make except that of proposals whereby more " thrift " is to be exercised by the impecunious classes. Certainly let us have more sacrifices from the victims. Let them eat clay, or sawdust, or something, and then invest the saved sixpence in some financial scheme steered by the honest hands of a " wizard of finance." Take the case of a Wellington labourer. Out of his 30s a week a house for himself his wife and children costs about 15s for rent and taxes. Out of the remaining 15s he has to pay for food, clothing, boots, medicine, &c, for five or six people. Divide it out. Try to divide 15s by five for a week's support, and see what savings remain ! Then, remembei*, this is while he is iv work. When the evil day comes, when want of work and illness come, when the poor sticks of furniture are in the pawnshop, then the tew saved half-crowns for which such people have to deny themselves aud their little ones the bare necessaries of life, melt away like snow in the sun. Go and talk to such a man about the wisdom of putting by sufficient for old age, and, if poverty and despair have not weakened him too much — if he has one spark of manliness left — he will hit you across your false and canting mouth. When the old horse has done his liletime's work, let him have a mouthful of the gross he has helped to plough and harrow in, even if the smug commercial or professional does grudge him a share of the paddock wanted for the carriage horses. I am, &c, E.T.