I.—ll

8

4. Dr. Hunter's Original Scheme, for Scotland only. The rates were as follows :—

Dr. Hunter has since merged his scheme with that of Mr. Chamberlain. DIVISION A.—2. 1. M. Constans's Scheme. This scheme was embodied in a Bill brought forward in the French Chamber in 1891. It is open to all men and women of French nationality who at twenty-five are earning less than £120 a year. Any one can refrain from joining the scheme by objecting before a Magistrate. All who do not so object are assumed to wish to join, and their employers are compelled to deduct from their wages from 5 to 10 centimes a day, and contribute an equal amount. This is to be paid into the State office, and the State will add two-thirds of the combined contributions of masters and men. The pension received in return for this after age 55 is either £24 or £12 a year, whereas the contribution of the workman himself would have provided only £7 Bs. 4d. or £3 14s. 2d. But if the workman have an income of more than £24 at age 55 he loses the State grant entirely. The Bill also provides for the payment of their pensions to contributors who have become permanently incapacitated through sickness, and for the relief of those who may be obliged on account of accident to interrupt their payments into the fund. Every contributor may insure his life under certain conditions, the State also contributing one-third of the premium. There are also provisions relating to those of the present generation over twenty-five. One of the suggestions for raising the necessary funds was a sliding scale of succession duty, rising from 1 percent, to as high as 75 per cent.; and M. Constansproposes to raise £1,160,000 per annum for the fund by taxing every foreign workman employed in France 10 centimes a day. 2. Italian Scheme. This was embodied in a Bill brought before the Chamber in 1892, which provides for a National Pension Institute, to administer funds subscribed by authorised savings-banks and friendly societies, by individuals, and by the State. Every Italian working-man or -woman may subscribe to the extent of £20 per annum, and is then entitled at age 60, and after twenty years' payments, to a pension proportioned to his or her accumulations, but not exceeding £20 per annum, any surplus capital being returned with interest. At death before sixty all contributions, with interest, are returned to representatives. 3. Me. Chamberlain's Original Scheme. This scheme provided for voluntary contributions towards a pension after sixty-five, based on 2 per cent, interest, while the State was to guarantee their accumulations at the rate of 5 per cent. It was abandoned for— 4. Mr. Chamberlain's Second Scheme. Payments to be made to the Post Office or a friendly society. Payments. —Men: For every £5 paid before twenty-five, the State gives £15. From twentyfive to sixty-five, forty annual payments of £1 have to be made. Benefits. —ss. a week pension after sixty-five. At death before sixty-five— (a), ss. a week for the widow for twenty-six weeks ; (b), 2s. a week for each child till twelve years old (but not to exceed 12s. in all for the first twenty-six weeks, and Bs. a week afterwards) ; (c), if neither widow nor children are left, the original £5 to be returned to the depositor's representatives at his death. Every man under twenty-five may insure for ss. a week pension, but not more than 10s. a week. Payments. —Women: For every £1 10s. paid before twenty-five the State gives £8; from twenty-five to sixty-five, forty annual payments of Bs. Bd. Benefits. —3s. a week pension after sixty-five. Alternative Scheme for Men. Payments. —Men: For every £2 10s. paid before twenty-five the State gives £10; from twenty-five to sixty-five, forty annual payments of 10s. Benefits. —ss. a week pension after sixty-five. For men over twenty-five and under fifty at the time of the commencement of the scheme the annuitant must have secured a pension of 2s. 6d. a week, and pay in from £4 to £10, and the State will double the pension. 5. Mr. James Rankin's Scheme. It is based on two main principles: (1.) That the contractors for pensions be required to make a contribution from their own resources. (2.) That the contract be only aided by the State if effected through some financially sound organization—a friendly society or annuity office, a pensions trust fund established by Parliament, or the Post Office.

Weekly Payments till Sixty-five. Benefits: Weekly Pension. Kate of Weekly Wages. Workman. Employer. State. After Sixty-five. j b6{^^five . s. 6 .2 .8 d. s. d. 0 to 11 11 0 to 17 11 0 and upwards ... d. 1 2 4 A. 1 2 4 d. 4 4 4 s. d. 5 0 7 0 10 0 s. a. io"d