OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13831, 19 February 1907, Page 5

OLD-AGE PENSIONS.

SPEECH BY MR KEIR HARDIE. ROWDY MEETING AT. CAMBRIDGE. Frees Aisocittion-By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 17. Tho Spectator declares that if the Government grants old-aga pensions it will require a tariff which would ineaii a betrayal of the cause of Freetrade, whether such an eventuality be intended or not. During 1906 Ministers were interviewed on Iho subject, of old-age pensions, but did not givo any definite promises. Tlio Prime Minister, however, said he admitted Iho necessity of dealing with the subject at tlin earliest;'possible moment, and both ho and Mr Asrpiitli declared themselves in favour of a. universal scheme. Speaking in the liouso of Commons a few duys ago, Mr Asquith said tho question was how to find the money. February 18. (Received Fob. 18, at 10.10 p.'in.) Mr Keir Hardie, .speaking at the Cambridge (luiklliall, declared that Labour would insist on old-age pensions dining the present year. He added thai if the difficulty of finding the- money prevented tho (lovernment from taking action, (hough the Labour members were Freetraders to a man, ho did nob believe all their influence could prevent large sections of the workers from being lured over to the Unionist side at the next election on a promise of pensions as the outcome of a system of preferential tariffs. Prior to tlio meeting a bottle of harmless' evil-smelling chemicals was thrown through tho window, and the undergraduates invaded the. Guildhall. A small anti-socialistic section numbering about 30 wae exceedingly rowdy, and pelted Mr Koiv H:\rdie. with oranges and sugar dipped in chemicals. The Senior Proctor appealed for a fair hearing, and restored comparative calm for a period of 20 minutes. The meeting closed in an uproar, and the carriage supposed to be waiting for Mr Keir Hardie was smashed.