OLD AGE PENSIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 35

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

To return once more to the course of political events in our own colony, we find that the session of 1898 was, on the whole, rather barren of important measures; but all deficiencies in that direction were more than supplied by the adoption of the Old Age Pensions Aet. The idea was not new, and it is a moot point how far the Premier may claim credit for originality in his treatment of this difficult subject. But there can be no doubt about the skill with which he overcame countless obstacles, and the determination with which he forced it through the House. It is well known that Mr. Seddon had always regarded the Old Age Pensions Act as his greatest achievement, whether viewed from the political or the humanitarian standpoint. “Members of the House,” says the “Lyttelton Times,” “still tell the story how he sat continuously for eighty-seven hours to get the Bill through committee. ’I doubt if I eould bear the strain again,’ he remarked to a friend once; ‘a man doesn’t want to do that more than once or twice in a lifetime.’ ” But in his own estimation the result was worth the effort; and his satisfaction with the measure has been fully justified by the enthusiasm it has evoked among those best qualified to judge of its value. As the “Auckland Star” has said, when, by sheer grit and determination, the Premier, beating down the Opposition stonewall, forced this measure through, he earned the gratitude of thousands of deserving settlers who, through no fault of their own, had been reduced to penury in their old age. “The journalist whose work took him into proximity to Mr. Seddon daily and hourly heard the blessings of God invoked on his head by aged men and women whose hard lot had been greatly lightened by the assistance of the State. The followring letter, handed to him by two Auckland ladies prior to his last departure for Britain, and handed to a representative of this paper, who preserved a copy, shows how greatly the benefit was appreciated, and this is but one sample of many: “Respected Sir,- —Before leaving, will you permit two old Scotchwomen to express their warmest gratitude for the old age pension which you did so much to pass into law. By your kindly action in the matter you have made many a widowed and lonely one’s heart to sing for joy. We are 75 and 70 years of age, and our working days are well nigh past; but it makes the evening of our days pass very pleasantly. I hope this is only one of hundreds of expressions of gratitude for the benefit it has conferred on the weak and helpless. I am sure there has ascended many a prayer for you to Heaven from lowly homes, which may be answered in later years. May God bless you, and bring you back safely to the country you have done so much to serve. May you and yours enjoy all the blessings promised to those “who consider the poor,” and may the "righteousness which exalteth a nation” be yours, is the sincere wish of your obliged servants.’ ” Cheered and strengthened by the knowledge that the gratitude of thousands was daily offered him for this inestimable boon, the Premier couid afford to ignore the earping criticism of those who denounced the new pension system as calculated to pauperise and demoralise the poorer classes. As a matter of fact, these captious and fallacious arguments are never heard to-day. It is now freely and generally admitted that the pension is not a pauper's dole, but merely the recognition by the State of efforts made and sacrifices endured in the past; an acknowledgment of the indisputable truth that the prosperity and progress of the country and the nation are the joint work of all the law-abiding men and women in the community. And so fully is this fact now appreciated that there is no other measure so certain to maintain a permanent place among our statutes as the Old Age Pensions Aet. The first attempt to carry this wise and philanthropic law was made in 1895, but after passing the second reading a committee amendment was carried, with the avowed object of defeating the Bill, providing that, instead of applying only to the aged poor, it should apply to all who had reached the age of 65. The treasury eould stand no such strain, and perforce tlie Bill was dropped, to be reintroduced next year, when, after passing the House of Representatives in workable form, it received its quietus in the Legislative Council, where the Bill was rejected in toto. Next year Mr. Seddon tackled the measure again, and, in the face of opposition which would have overwhelmed an ordinary mortal, forced the Bill through in what was practicallv a single-handed fight, so far as his side of the battle was concerned. Publie opinion ■was now too strong for the Legislative Council, and the Bill became an Act. Though ■o bitterly opposed, the Old Age Pensions Act is now as firm as the Constitution itself, and when last session Mr. Seddon proposed to increase the pension from 7/ to 10/ a week, he had the support of the whole colony, and the increase was made within a month of the opening of Parliament.