The Old Age Pension Bill-A Suggestion. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 26

The Old Age Pension Bill-A Suggestion. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — The throwing out of the above measure by the Legislative Council in such a cavalier fashion, though passed by the II- use of Representatives after such a lengthy debate by an overwhelming majority, has caused a bitteriy hostile feeling among the mining community of Central Otago, nut only against those loids who were created by the Premi. i to help him to pass Libeial measuies for the benefit of the working classes, but especially against those M.II. H.'s> who were returned on the Liberal ticket and who during the last session so basely letra-yed their ti ust.

Conspicuous among the latter stands Mr Lirnach, the member for Tuapeka, in whoso district I lesided at the time of the last election. Not only did he oppose the bill tooth and nail, but seeing that it was likely to be carried in the Lower House, moved an amerdment to the effect that " Should the bill pass any recipient of the pension should be disfranchised, not only in pjirlia. xnentary elections but also in rnuniciual affairs."

Such a motion coming from the lips of anyone rerumed in the Liberal interest is so astounding that comment thereon is juperfluous. I can only say thai he has sounded his death knell for future political honours in the Tuapeka or any other constituency. In the Vincent electorate, where I am now mining, the feeling against the present member, Mr Fr^ser, is also inimical among the mining population, but as he was returned as a Couseivative he stood true to his party, aud did not betray the tiusfc reposed in him. As the Tuapeka and Vincent electorates comprise the bulk of Central Otago, where the principal mining centres are situated, and contain hundreds of old mineis who were locking with hope to the Premier's Old Age Pen-ion Bill becoming Jaw, and thus securing a small allowance wheiewith to live upon duriug the few short years left them on earth, and they now having no other resource than the Benevolent Institution, the disappointment and anger felt can be imagine'!, and cuites both loud and deep against thoie who were the principal factors in throwing out the bill are but natural.

Sir, it h on behalf of th*se sturdy pioneers of Otago that I pen this. The bulk of these men are personally known to myself a3 I started mining in Otago early in 1863, and shared the hatdships and privations incidental to opening up the interior of Otago when roads and bridges were unknown in the land and scores of men perisheJ in the snow and were_ drowned crossing the rivers. I I eel that a greit injustice has been don« them, and that those sapient M H. X's drawing th-ir £240 a y^-ar and living luxuriously coul 1 have no knowledge ot what theie men suffered in opening up Otago, then a ho /-ling wilderness, and now through their md mitable pl-ick and perseverance tran&foi mcd into populous mining centres, fl lavishing towns, smiling homesteads, and waving cornfields. It may be urged that the Benevolent Institution is open to these old men, but they are the very men who possess too great a spirit of independence to accept charity, and while they can fossick a- pennyweight of gold, grow a few pota'oes, and catch a rabbit will accept of no e!i.emosinary aid. Kvery now and again we are startled to hear that one i>f the c ol I miners is fon ml dead in hi.s hut. Ver'>. sap. Th' pension W"uW have been a just ri-compen?e for having dev.'t^d the best years of iheii life to the welf.ne of Ot go and the opening up of her wonderful re ources

One M.H.R. who approved the bill fooli lily stated thit it would only benefit, the town loafers, and the country people would have to bear tha taxati in. I am certain that a vast majority of tlif applicants dwell in the country, and moreover all nf these a' e not miners but among them will be f'.unrl any number of old men who have followed pastoral and agricultural pursuits and have been unfortunate.

The working classes of New Ze .-land are satisfied that the present G >v rnment have done moie *nd tied to f lo more for them than any previous one in settling people on the land, passing labour and lib.-r.»l mining and land bills, and they naturally look upon the Hon. R Se>ld»n with respect artd-j grati'iide ; and as the 01 1 Age Pension Bill email ited fmm him, >itidhe fought so hard, though un&uece-'-fnlly, to mike it, law. I bi-g to t-uggi-^t tint the miners of Otago combine in pi esmting him with a token of the eVeeni and gratitude they feel towards him, such presentation to be in the form of a hai'tUome piece of plate suitably engraver), and which he can hand down with pride to his de cendants. To arcompli-h this a conumttee formed in the vari. us mining centres, beaded by such genilemen as Mr John Ewi g (Tinker-.), Mr Benj unin Kogers (Skipper 3), Mv P d- la I'e-ii'll ■ (A-iowfc.wn), M> It. Gil Koo. (Clyd ), an! o h -r prominent geutleu.eu who belong t<i the Liberal p*rry, should be empowered to collect subscription 1 ? — limited to Is each if thought ntfoe*?ury —in their various districts, and appoint an executive to carry out the ma ttr. I can only say that they can depend on my hearty ro operation. In con-clu-,i<»% let me state th-*t I am not an appbeaut for the pension. Al-hou-rh I luve btsen ia Otago 34 y tvs, I -"in only 57 *ears of age, and therefore not eligible. Thanking you, Mr, in anticipation, aniiknowing that although an oppositionist your c 'limits are always open to both sides, and you give fair play, — I urn, &c , Lewis Harris. Qiurtz Ilcef Point, Bend-go, January 2.