OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12158, 23 March 1900, Page 3

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In reading your article in Monday’s paper, one might almost think you advocated pensioners living together because by doing so “they could enjoy some measure of comfort.” That husband and wife should unite their pensions and live together, is, of course, natural. _But that several should, would, T think, take away tbe feeling of independence, and comfort of homeliness which the pension may be expected to give. To many old people the chief boon which it bestows is that it gives them the power of living in their own borne, that is a place which is theirs only. They are free to stay in or go out as they will, to see friends or not see them, to do this that or the other without rule.- In fact We would n^t

be miserable whatever selfdenial was required, just because they enjoy the freedom of home. This, I think, is the great point against public homes. Old people are not partial to rules; the older they get the less so, except the nties of their own habits. If half the amount of the pension spoken of by Mr Haselden were paid by Government instead of eighteen pounds/ yearly the increase would be sufficient for comfort to working people generally, and no' doubt there are many old gentlefolk to whom ten shillings weekly would be a great help towards personal comfort. If the pension ever is universal, which we all hope, things in New Zealand generally will be better for it. It has been remarked that things sell better this year, that is most kinds of produce. Have the pensions had anything to do with it? When the pensions are universal I hope they wilT.be payable by some kind of Government note ! without the publicity needful at present, j The needful supervision can easily be ar- j ranged in a less harrasing way to those who ' receive the acknowledgment of the State that they have done their duty!—l am,, etc., S.G.