THE COLONIAL TREASURER AT CHRISTCHURCH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3110, 21 March 1883, Page 2

THE COLONIAL TREASURER AT CHRISTCHURCH.

PAUPERISM.

The Hon Major Atkinson last night addressed the public at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Christchurch, on the subject of pauperism. His Worship the Mayor presided and the building was crowded. Major Atkinson began by saying that much as he disliked “ pauperism ” the word expressed something whose growth was co-eval with that of our civilization and would have to bo faced. He said Great Britain had last year added to her reserve, after paying all expenses, £230,000,000, yet there were 700,000 paupers, costing the nation £7,00,000, The causes of pauperism he set down as bad legislation, extravagance, pressure of population and crime. Under the last category he placed drink. The poor law came under the first head, so did land tenure as it existed in the older countries. He thought extravagance was not so much a cause of pauperism as insufficient pay, which did not permit the workman to lay by anything for- a

rainy day. In this country the enormous consumption of drink and tobacco was doing a good deal to pauperise the people. He considered we had no criminal class in this colony, properly so called, though wife-desertion was growing into a terrible evil, and would be dealt with during next session. He wished to stamp out pauperism in its inceptive stages, by compelling people to lay by a provision for themselves in old age. Such a scheme would inculeate thrift, and secure the country against the growth of pauperism. He proposed that each person should make a weekly payment, either from 18 years to 23 of 3s 3d, or from 16 to 23 of 2s 3d. In return for this each was entitled to get 15s a week when sick up to 65, and after that age an annuity of 10s per week. The scheme would provide for all persons except widows and orphans, and for them ho would made provisions out of the rent of Crown lands. He met the objection that these matters were within the province of private individuals by saying that private individuals showed no disposition to act in the matter. He would have the state pay the premiums for those unable to do it themselves, and for those who would not, he would compel employers to collect it.

The Major’s speech did not meet with general approval and several severe criticisms wore made upon his proposals but he was thanked for his address and the meeting closed.