The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1896. OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 129, 24 September 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1896. OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Although the Premier has found it necessary to abandon the Old-Age Pensions Bill introduced by him, we hope that he will make it a cardinal plank in the platform of his party during the general election. The idea of providing for the aged B,nd deserving poor otherwise than by doles of charity is gradually gaining ground, and for the moment the idea has been crystalized into Old-Age Pensions Bills, which have been introduced during the year in the Imperial Parliament and the Parliaments of New South Wales and New Zealand. The details of the Bills vary of course, but their purport is the same, and we question whether there is a single person in the community who disagrees with the principle. We all agree that a man or woman who has honorably worked throughout his or her life should not at the termination of his or her career be made the recipient of charity or a lodger in a poor-house. That feeling which has been described as "the milk ©f human kindness" forces us to admit the claims &f the deserving poor. The question is one of ways and means, of limitations and safeguards, or, to put it simply, we differ as to the machinery necessary for giving effect to the principles we all admit. It will, perhaps, be surprising to some people to learn that the idea of old-age pensions is over a century old.

So long ago as 1773, a Bill was'introduced into the House of . Commons, sent up to the House of Lords, and rejected by them ; in 1789 the House of Commons again dealt with such a measure ; and in 1817 a Committee of the House of Commons recommended that benefit societies should be enabled to offer greater facilities for provision for old age. Since thep the matter has remained dormant, and its revival in recent years is due to the advent of the new progressive political party, which we in New Zealand know as the Liberal Labor Party. Old-age pensions on a modified scale are paid in Germany and Denmark; in the former country the pensioners are compelled to contribute to the funds during a series of years, while in Denmark no contributions are asked. In England the strongest advocate of old-age pensions is the Eight Honorable Joseph Chamberlain, and he is well supported by many eminent men. It may be regarded as a certainty that some sort of provision for the aged poor will become the law of New Zealand as it will of some of the other colonies. In taking time to consider the most suitable machinery for giving effect to a very just principle, we are taking the right course. No one should be sorry.that the Premier has been unsuccessful with the measure this year, but there will be good grounds for regret if old-age pensions is not included in the political creed of his party. The more the subject is debated and discussed, the more serious attention that is bestowed upon it, the more perfect will be the Act of Parliament which will give it a local habitation. If the Liberals wish to have the honor of being associated with so great and beneficial a measure of reform they must not merely include it in their political creed, but study the quest ion in all its bearings, so that their efforts may result in lasting good to the country. The demand for oldage pensions is one of the hopeful 'signs of the time, and is due to the great extension of the franchise in recent years.