PENSIONS FOR THE AGED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10310, 31 March 1894, Page 3

PENSIONS FOR THE AGED.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib,—l was vary glad to see the letter from “Friendly Society.” Thera is not the least doubt that-the world is far too improvident in spite of a few wiaeacreai who are agitating for a soft thing for them, selves when they get old. If poor people would only save five shillings a week and place it out at compound interest instead of spending it on drink and tobacco, and dressing above their station, there would be none of this outcry about a pension for the aged. I for one do cot agree with robbing Peter to pay Paul. Let everyone look after himself. They all have the same chance, and if they choose to make no provision for themselves, well that is their look out and not mine.—l am, Ac,, EXTERMINATION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik,—ln the December (1893) number of the Review of Reviews, on page 615, is an interesting article on a “ Project of Poor Law Reform,” which throws some light on pensions for the aged. The Rev J. Frorae Wilkinson states that the Grantham Board of Guardians already grant a weekly allowance of 5a 6d to men above seventyfive years of age, of Sa to women above seventy, arid 9s to an ‘old married couple living together. The article is too long to put in a letter, but Mr Wilkinson points out that old-age pensions can be granted, even under tha existing law. The Act of 1834, Section 27, provides that any two acting justices may give relief to any adult unable from aga or other infirmity to work, without requiring him to go into the workhouse. This suggestive article closes with a plea that the State, having by its profusion of liquor licenses tempted the poor to drink, should not in its character-test judge too severely those who have yielded to the temptation. The Bishop of Eipon suggests in the same review the utilisation of existing parish coles in the old-age pension fund. It will be seen from the above, whilst we are only agitating the question here in the colonies, that tha Grantham Board of Guardians is actually carrying the thing into

practice in a small way. To be sure, 5s 6d per week is not a large sum, but it is better than the Chrietohurch dole of Is 9d per week. A pension for the aged is not only practicable, but it will soon be looked upon as most inhuman not to provide a fund for the purpose. When money is wanted for a war, there is no haggling about .saving up the money for it; ways and means are soon found, and the poor have to do the fighting. But when money is wanted for an act of humanity, then the poor are told they must provide the funds themselves. The wealthy seem to forget that as a matter of fact the working classes have to provide everything, and the reason they need a pension is because they are kept down by starvation wages all the beat part of their lives, while a few hoard up the wealth which rightly belongs to the toilers who have made it. Hoping that the people of New Zealand will agitate this question until carried into effect. —I am, &c., THE BROTHERHOOD OP MAN.'