9

I.—ll

For every annuity of 2s. 6d. after sixty-five provided by the member the State gives another of the same amount, making the total annuity ss. a week after sixty-five. At death before sixty-five nominee to receive a sum not exceeding £5. Every contributor who has completed payments to receive a certificate which will entitle him or her to any " provident relief which may be necessary during life, in the form of outdoor relief, if so desired." 6. Mr. Naylor-Leyland's Scheme. This is a variation of Mr. Chamberlain's. Investments are to be made only in the National Debt. Friendly societies are to be allowed to employ their agents to collect the premiums, in return for which they have the use of the money for an average of six months. 7. Mr. Vallance's Scheme. Voluntary as regards the workmen, but compulsory as regards the employer. This is a proposal to encourage workmen to put by small sums weekly, Id. or 3d. in the pound on their wages, by compelling employers to add a similar sum. The workmen's payments may be withdrawn with interest at any time, but the employers' payments with interest will only be paid at death before sixty-five. After sixty-five the total goes to purchase pensions. This is very similar in principle to the scheme of M. Constans, except that the French scheme is State-aided. 8. Mr. T. Fatkin's Scheme. This scheme points to the investment of savings, under the management of municipal bodies, in local securities yielding a higher rate of interest than that given by the Government, the compound interest on which at 3 or 3-J- per cent, would give greater benefits to the investor. 9. Sir Robert Stout's Scheme. This.is an old-age-pension scheme pure and simple. The State is to guarantee a rate of interest equal to 5 per cent, on all investments. If this is done, £50 accumulated before age 25 will serve to provide a pension of 17s. 6d. per week after age 60. DIVISION B. 1. Mr. Booth's Scheme. This scheme is simplicity itself, except as to the means of raising the money. It proposes simply that every person reaching the age of sixty-five should be entitled, without a specific contribution, to a minimum pension of, say, ss. a week for the rest of his life. 2. Rev. Moore Ede's Scheme (outlined at the 1892 Session of the British Association). This is a combination of Mr. Booth's system of universal pensions with an attempt to endow thrift. It is to be administered by County Councils, and is supposed to encourage thrift and abolish outdoor relief; inability to claim pension will leave no alternative but the workhouse. It is limited to those with an income under £50. 2s. 6d. per week is to be granted to those incapacitated before age 65, and a pension of 2s. 6d. a week after 65, provided they can so supplement this allowance from any private source as to maintain themselves without further recourse to State aid. 3. Mr. Bartley's Scheme (Old-age Provident Pensions Bill). Based on the lines of the existing poor-law system. It provides for three classes of pensions (ranging from 3s. 6d. to 7s. per week) : (1) To those who have never received any poor relief; (2) to those who have provided partially in some way for their old age, in any manner which they may have preferred; (3) to those whose special misfortunes render them deserving of aid though they have not been able to provide even partially for themselves. It also provides for the imposition of a special rate to be called the pension rate, replacing the poor rate. It is limited to those of sixtyfive, who will not be eligible unless they have a clean record, and have been unconvicted of crime for fifteen years or drunkenness for ten years. The object of the Bill is to help the deserving poor and leave the undeserving to the poor-laws. 4. Mr. T. W. Fowle's Scheme. He advocates the gradual extinction of outdoor relief in not less than twenty-five years, and the allocation to the friendly societies of the sums thus saved (which he estimates at £3,000,000 per annum) on condition that they should guarantee a sufficient maintenance to all their members permanently disabled by sickness or old age. 5. Rev. J. F. Wilkinson's Scheme. cWB '■ District Councils shall be empowered to grant a minimum maintenance endowment of ss. a week to all aged persons who send in a demand note, except such as are held to have forfeited their pension—these to go to the workhouse. The pension to begin when decay of working-powers becomes manifest. Municipal or village cottages to be purchased or erected by the Councils and let for a small weekly sum to aged inhabitants. The old-age endowment fund to come from Imperial rather than local taxation. 2—l. 11.