The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, SEPT. 27, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3161, 27 September 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27, 1892.

ISaual and exact justice do all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tim problem which is puzzling every statesman in the civilised world at the present time, is to arrive ;it some practicable and humane mode of dealing with the poverty not only of tho.se past work, hut in the case of the old countries of the world with that of a large section of the able-bodied, improvident and vicious. Fortunately in this colony the last three classes are limited in number, and the fact that work can as a rule be secured for the looking for, enables those who have the administration of public and private charity to keep the professional pauper in check, until lie reaches the age when he is past work, he bo'dly claims as a right tiie food, clothing and lodging, which, had he, in the majority of cases, been ordinarily provident and instructed as to the means to be adopted, and the necessary machinery provided, he could have secured for himself. This of course implies a voluntary sacrifice during the earlier years of life, and this is made by many,otherwise the roll of recipients of charitable aid would be much longer even in t.his juvenile country than is unfurl unately the ease. We quite agree, with Sir R. Stout that it should I'O one of the functions of Government to provide the greatest possible, facilities for the gradual purchase of annuities payable after a certain age. If this were done there can Ik; no doubt but that many would mala, the effort to secure for themsi-ives independence in their old age, who now from the iliM'lice of adequate facilities allow i he small sum which would be mves-saiy to slip through their lingers. It is true thai the Government, and other i<i<uriiic« olliees r(o this class (if business, hut. the tables published are little understood ami :: re not i.ersistenll v given prominence to by their ro[!i'o::ent:.;ives. Sir 11.

Stun;, jujinls out thai, if a [mrson (•unlit allbrd to pay A.'oo citlicr in one sum or by iiistalincnts before tin; ago of '25 he could sccurc, a pension of 17s 'id per week after attaining tin: age of 60, thirtylive years is a long time to look forward to, and we. fear Lliat the ehanoo of habit implied will be very "racially indeed brought about, 110 matter linw oreat the facilities o lie rod. In tiio meantime the cost of charitable aid is rapidly increasing, and the amount contributed last year from the consolidated fund and ioeal rates amounted .£105,000, these are .Sir Robert's figures. We j\..ar that no matter how great the facilities offered any scheme of voluntary purchase, of old ago wiuuities will go a very short way towards bringing this yearly increasing amount down to reasonable limits, hut this is no argument why they should not be provided, it is the duty of the Government to apply every possible palliative. Sir li. Stout's proposal to make every money ollice ail agency for the sale of annuities should be adopted and special tables prepared so that the least enlightened shall have no difficulty in understanding the premium he has to pay and the advantages secured in consequenco. We arc at the present time paying £105,000 per annum in recognition of the fact that a civilised Government is bound to provide that medical aid and sustenance shall be within the reach of all who are unable to provide it for thenisel ves. As this duty must ho recognised by the people as a whole, the question suggests itself. Would not the peoplr be justified in insisting that each individual should contribute to a fund, during his youth and early manhood, a sufficient sum to secure that he shall not in his old age he a burden 011 his fellows, and demand as a right the support which he has purchased. We are convinced of this that any and every means short of compulsion will bo very inadequate to cope with the yearly and daily increasing incubus.