OLD-AGE PENSIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14212, 13 May 1908, Page 5

OLD-AGE PENSIONS

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' VIEW. AN IMPORTANT POINT. Press Association.—By Telegraph-Copyright, LONDON, May 11. Tiie friendly societies propose to ask Mr Asquith, in awarding pensions, not to take into account the income received from any friendly society or trade union. Opponents of tho scheme declare that if the 10s limit is ignored for one form of thrift, it must be ignored for others, liko the savings bonk. The Labour party is dissatisfied with tho old-age pensions scheme. The party wanted a universal pension from 65 years and upwards ; the Government offers a restricted pension from 70 years and upwards. Mr Asquith offers 5s for a single septuagenarian, or 3s 9d each to married and cohabiting septuagenarians, subject to tho following conditions:—Recipient (1) Must not be an alien or a lunatic. (2) Alust not be in actual receipt of poor relief. _ (3) Must not have been recently convicted of a serious crime. (4) Must not have an income above the stated limit (in the case of a single man 10s a week). P d « r .*?.atonw °f Mr Chaplin's committee in 18S9, the following persons were proposed to be disqualified: (1) Those in receipt of an income of 10s a week. J2) Those who have received poor relief within 20 years of their application for a pension. (3) Aliens, lunatics, and criminals. (4) Those who could not show that they have endeavoured to makf* provision for themselves' and those dependent on them. According to a memorandum issued in July last year by .the Local Government board, to give pensions to all persons without distinction, would cost:- . T . .■, Pension Cost per Age Limit. per week. Year. 65 and upwards... ... Ss £27,508,000 70 and upwards 5s £16,302,000 According to the Local Government Board's memorandum, the number of people in Great Britain over 65 years of age, and tho number of these who are over 70 years of ago (and therefore boncficiaries by Mr Asquith's scheme), are respectively as under: — 65 years and upwards ... 2,116,000 70 years and upwards ... 1,254,000 The present scheme affects only the smaller number—that is to say, 862,000 people over 65 years but not over 70 years will not participate, in tho pension, even if otherwise qualified.