OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 7

OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, March 15. (Received March 16, at 8.12 a.m.)

Mr J. O'Grady (Liberal member for Leeds) moved a resolution that a measure is urgently needed to provide old-age pensions out of funds raised from taxation. It was sympathetically received and carried without a division.

Mr Asqttitli (Chancellor of (lie, Exchequer), in accepting tho principle of the resolution, pleaded for patience and prudence. The Government was pledged to a pacific policy, and would take substantial steps to reduce the army and to reduce the shipbuilding programme. He also hinted at reductions in other departments, and that he would widen the basis of taxation for revenue purposes by making the burden fall with greater justice and equality on all sections of the community. (Received March 16, at 8.44 a.m.) Mr John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, considers that the best, simplest, and fairest way is to give everyone a pension of Ss a week at the age of 65, except perhaps to military, naval, civil, and municipal pensioners. The Government will take the matter up when the Poor Law Commission report is received.