IRISH OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 14037, 19 April 1909, Page 6

IRISH OLD AGE PENSIONS.

* The best friends of Ireland will regret that her bishops and archbishops have not taken the opportunity of the annual Lenten Pastorals to speak out upon the matter of personal honesty in relation to the Act. With one notable exception, so far as I have seen, they have not utilised it. The exception is Archbishop Healv, of Tuam, whose outspokenness tempts me to a lone quotation: The Old Age Pensions Act (he ob serves) has proved an inestimable blessmg to the aged poor throughout. Ireland, but especially amongst us here in the West, where, owing to lack of money and employment and frequent insufficiency of crops, extreme poverty is more prevalent than elsewhere. We "sincerely hope that there wiTl be no attempt at fraud, either in stating the age or the means of the applicant, and that none of the money will find its way to the public-house. Fraudulent statements would be not only sinful and disgraceful in themselves, but would involve making restitution for the grants obtained thereby, which would be the wages of iniquity earned by the commission of crime. The Archbishop concludes with an expression of regret that the most paltry relief under the Poor Law should disqualify* I am able to throw some light on the increa. of the people over seventy years of age now declared to be without income, although a short time back they would have been indignant if not described as " farmer." Many were getting old, and had contemplated making ever their farms to sons. The arrival of the Old Age Pension Act has led to a definite decision, and .the man who. had several acres under potatoes, oats, etc., or who had several cattle.or horses or pigs, or all has suddenly become entered among the propertyless and non-earning community. But, 'little ias most of them realise it, they are breaking the law and acting dishonestly, by giving up their source of livelihood in order to become pensioners.—'Daily Chroncile' correspondent.