OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5859, 29 April 1897, Page 2

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

'-^ A "MILLIONAIRE'S IDEAS. A London daily newspaper comments thus: — "The demand for a national pension scheme, to provide for the sick, disabled, aged widows, and orphans of the poor, is calculated to undermine the independence, of the working classes, and strike a blow at national thrift, whereupon J. Milton Bloggs writes in the Clarion as follows :— Old Age Pensions .' Tommy rot .' What arc they thinking about? , Is independence going to pot, Or the workin' niun played out? Those careless, thriftless working men, Just live like fighting cocks, Until they're out of work— and then They're 'owling on the rocks ! Yes, 'owling for a pension scheme, . As loud as they can rave ! A sickeniu' Socialistic dream— Why don't the beggers save ? They've got no energy or thrift, They drink, and bet, and spree ; And then to poverty they drift— Why don't they do like me ? Oh, yes ! I smoke a good cigar, And drink my pint of " fizz ; " But I take good care my " oxes " are Not half my income is. I take my bit of fun, of course, And take it like a lord ; ' And drop a hundred on a horse, As I can well afford. And if I sometimes take a run With the girls " behind the scenes," I always think of number one, And live within my means. And so the workin' class would, too, If they weren't a thriftless lot. They've nothiu' to save .' Oh, bosh to you J And your Socialist Tommy rot ! !