Political.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 30, 10 November 1900, Page 9

Political.

OLD AGE PENSION POINTS. The Old Age Pensions Act received a good deal of attention from members of Parliament during the late session, when a number of amendments, some of them necessary owing to the fact that the existing measure was not permanent, were passed. The subject was exhaustively discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages of the system reviewed. We subjoin extracts from Hansard of some of the speeches made on the occasion : The Act generally is working satisfactorily, and, although there have been, as there always will be, cases of abuse to a slight extent,- on the whole I think it has recommended itself to our own people, and is satisfactory to the colony, seeing we have been able to bear the burden without feeling it in the slightest degree. The money has gone to very deserving persons, and happiness and hope has been brought to many old men and women who have hitherto been in absolute need.—The Hon. Mr Seddon. * * * T maintain it would have been far better if the Premier, instead of reducing taxation as he has, bad given a universal pension, so that there shall be no inducement among the people to conceal and convey property as they are now doing, but that they would receive the pension as a matter of right when they proved their age was sixty - five years. Ministers speak in compliment of the, old-age pension, simply because it appeals to their hearts as an act of kihdness to the old people; but its iniquities are ignored. There are Sunday-school teachers who are inculcating into the minds of their scholars that it is a good system, though they know that fathers and mothers have been conveying property, and they are pleased they should receive it, although the Act declares that it is'only for the deserving poor. —Mr Monk. * * * I have advocated, when speaking on the subject of old-age pensions, that men should receive the pension at sixty years of age, and that I would favour women receiving it at fifty-five. My reason for granting women the pension five years sooner than men is that, generally speaking, a woman becomes incapable of earning a living sooner than a man. Then, as to the amount bf pension now payable, I would urgfe that it be increased to 10s. a week. —Mr Hanan. * * * Speaking of the good the Pensions Bill had done, it has been stated by those well informed upon these matters that it has been an equivalent to £IOO,OOO in the volume of the drink traffic. That seems incredible ; but if honourable members have taken notice they know that nearly half the money that is drawn for old-age pensions is the the result of negligent and thriftless lives lived in the past, and I quite sympathise with those whose desire it is that a pension system should be introduced which would levy from persons in their earlier days sufficient to make an "approach, at any rate, for reasonable provision in old age. One thing is now noticed that many of those unfortunates are now receiving better treatment than they ever received in their lines before. They are looked upon as a sort of milch-cows. Some receive a daily dole of liquor, and when the old-age pension day comes round one of the debts they most religiously pay is the liquor bill of the month.—Mr Monk. * * * Those who think that I am opposed to the aged poor cf this country getting the benefits are wrong, for I am rather inclined to extend it further to those who are most deserving. How, I think that the Premier —and I am quite sure he will do so —should make the most strenuous efforts to prevent people deliberatly qualifying to obtain these pensions. If that is not checked all the calculations that have bee made by the thoughtful men of this House will be

npset, because those who are deliberately qualifying will make the amount the colony has to pay so enormously heavy that it will be impossible for the revenues of the country to bear it. Let us extend the benefits freely to those who have not the means ; but if they will distribute their. property to their sons and others, and qualify by that process, let them be given to understand that this Government and this country will not encourage it in any way. And I would apply the same method of reaching the sons and daughters, and especially the sons, who have means to assist their aged parents. If they have not within their breasts that gratitude to their parents, who have reared them and practised so much self - denial in order that they might obtain an education for their start in life —for without that they could never have been able to acquire property —and if those men are not proud of their privilege of beeing able to contribute towards their aged parents, then I say that the law of the country should be called into exercise so that they shall be compelled to give of their means to the parents who have had the responsibility of rearing them in this countrv. —Mr T. McKenzie.