AN IRISH VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1938, Page 8

AN IRISH VIEW

THE SECURITY PLAN

TERMS EXTRAVAGANT

BUT USEFUL STIMULUS

(By ASr Mail, from "The Post's" London

Representative.)

LONDON, September 1

"Politicus," who compiles the political notes for the "Sunday Independent," published in Dublin, remarks that the only p&ople in this part of the world who to,Qk serious notice of the "Social Security Bill" were the metal-lic-minded members of the London Stock Exchange. "They immediately 'marked down' all New Zealand Government Stocks, thus indicating their doubts as to the financial feasibility of the most glam-j orous measure of social reform which any of our democratic Governments has, so far, sponsored. Nor can the ! stockbrokers be blamed for their chill response. To provide a pension of 30s a week for everybody at 60 years of age, allowing married couples to receive £3, in addition to income of £ 1 per week from other sources, would impose a strain on the resources of ! even a richer country" than New Zealand. "In this country, the Social Security Bill is regarded as too New Zealandish for serious discussion v The report of the Banking Commission has made adamantine conservatives of all of us, I and he would be a daring fellow who would rise in the Dail to advocate allround pensions of 30s per week at 60 years—an age at which some of our politicians are just getting into their stride. DESERVING OF CONSIDERATION. "Yet the idea behind the New Zealand proposal deserves the consideration of our public men, even if the expression of that idea has taken rather extravagant form, according to the modest notions of personal comfort which obtain in this part of the world. There is need of a system of industrial pensions, and that need will be intensified as the years pass. At present, | many of our bigger firms are introducing contributary systems of pensions for their employees, but the movement in this direction is slow, and it is doubtful that, without some Government fillip, it will ever reach comprehensive proportions. "The Government might, with advantage, survey the possibilities in connection with the organisation of an industrial pensions scheme on a national basis. The building up of the necessary fund would occupy many years; there is, therefore, all the more reason for early exploration of the possibilities. On examination, it might be found that the cost of such a scheme to the Exchequer would be negligible —or. at all events, would not be so considerable as to incur the animadversions of a future Banking Commission The Government might find encouragement in the operations of the pension scheme for widows and orphans, which, eventually, should prove comparatively inexpensive so far as the Exchequer is concerned. THE TOOTH PROBLEM. "One hesitates to advocate any innovation calculated to throw additional burdens on industry or commerce, but the problem of finding employment for growing boys and girls—and, particularly, boys—will have to be faced sooner or later. Too many of our youths are losing patience with conditions at home and are seeking adventurous occupations in the British Army and Navy. It is better that boys should obtain employment of almost any type than that they should fritter away their post-school years in idleness. But it would be better still if work could be found for our young men at home. The introduction of a pension scheme would be, at least, an inducement to the older men to take their ease and make room for the youngsters. Later, it might be possible to convert inducement into compulsion—at a suitable age. "On humanitarian grounds, a strong case could be made for an industrial pensions scheme, particularly in relation to women workers. In Great Britain the Government is to investigate the claims of the spinsters to be placed, more or less, on an equality with widows in connection with the grant of pensions. Because of her little irritating eccentricities, the spinster is rarely a popular member of society, and she has, therefore, few champions. Yet, her claim to considerate treatment may be just as valid as that of the more affable and engaging widow. The occupations in which women are paid sufficient to enable them to make adequate provision for infirmity or age are few. "A pension—even a small pension— would be a godsend to thousands of single women who have worked themselves out and who are living in penury—and lonely penury at that. A national pension scheme is one of the certainties of the future. The time to make investigation, however, is the present." .