OLD AGE PENSIONERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12534, 22 June 1901, Page 3

OLD AGE PENSIONERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Among the subjects unsoiled by my scribble, Old Age Pen,dong may be mentioned, and lor a rather peculiar reason. Having strong ideas as to the dangers of battling in the face of an acrimonious opposition for umversal pensions, the thought occurred that the necessary expression of those views ' in dealing with so large ai question would, in the opinion) of its most heated champions, lay me open to the • charge of slyly trying to weaken the movement. Again, Sir Harry Atkinson found such worthy successors in Messrs Rogers, Ffrost, and the whole body of the Progressive Liberal Association (of whom Mr H. G. Ell was then the emergetio and sympathetic secretary), that it appeared wise that those who had planned and 'begun the early campaigns should be allowed to reap the reward of their al.ruistio strategy Without the ambiguous, or distracting advice of “side-walk generals.” Although it is to be regretted that tins cotafor)> and comparative' privacy of the old age pensioners cannot be combined, in the manner I ventured to suggest, we all , hoge that their pant in the coming ceremonies will bo in every way successful. But—-the brightest brilliant boasts a “but”-—would it not be well-that some official'recognition of the come-at-ables initiators' should be made —either by presenting them with a simple address, or by procuring their introduction to H;R.H. the Duke of Cornwall and York? As the Right Hon, the Premier has said, all beneficial legislation comes from the people.—l aim, etc., J. H. NEWLYN.