RETIRING AGES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 20

RETIRING AGES

SIXTY YEARS OLD TOO YOUNG.

The "Literary Digest" (New York) summarises an interesting discussion now going on in the American Press on the proper retiring age:—

Sixty years is too young—6s or 70 is a better age limit—according to President Coolidge, for allowing Government employees to retire from service and to become pensioners; consequently sponsors of Bills before Congress to liberalise the present system have raised their minimum to 62 for optional retirement, with gradations to 65 and beyond. This at once raises the question: "When to Retire?" not merely from Government Civil service, but from active duties in business and the professions. Most editors apparently take pleasure in marshalling examples of successful careers beyond 60 and beyond ihe Biblical three score and ton. "The truth is that men now know how to live more sensibly, and longer, than they formerly did,'' declares the Cincinnati "Enquirer"; "it may not be possible arbitrarily to fix the age of ' retirement,' but it certainly is not 60." The Seattle "Times," in similar vein, remarks: "Men live in the open, live easily, live carefully, and extend the measure of their days. Need ono add that the same is true of the other sex? Women refuse to grow old traditionally. 'Fat, fair, and forty' is no modern ideal. The woman of 40 is likely to be mistaken for the sister of her eldest daughter. Released from the grinding drudgery of the home, she keeps young by maintaining an alert mind and a keen interest in the current events of the very interesting age in which she lives." We read.in the Boston "Her-, aid": "It is regrettable that this matter must bo handled anywhere arbitrarily. Many people are plenty old enough to retire at 60; others are perfectly efficient at 80, and beyond. It all depends. It is bad for the world to lose valuable services merely because of an arbitrary age limit. It lessens the net product of human activities, as well as the usefulness, and so tho happiness of a great many individuals."