BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 122, 25 May 1903, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

OLD AGE PENSION BILL. REVIEW OF FI3OAL SYSTEM. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION." Received 21, 5 p.m. London, May 23. The Old Age Pension rs Bill, proposing an Bg3 limit of 65 with a pension of 5s a weik, provided p vrtly from rates and partly from the Treasury, at an es ima'ed co3t of 6£ millions, has beeu reid'R second time. Mr Chamberlain, referring to the history of the movement agree? with the possibility of doing something to stimulate thrift and help m king a p-o----vision for o'd age. Tbe question was complicated, and the obstacles w<re great, but they were not insuparable, as it was not impossible to find funds for that purpose. No doubt there would have to be that review of the fiscal system ha hid indicated as necessary and desirable at an early date. (Cheers.) Mr Long admitted the Bill was an improvement on the previous ones, but considered more precis) information was required. Commenting on Mr J. F. Bsmuaat's Bill, Mr Long, recalling the demand for remission of taxation, doubled whether a proposal necessitating a large expenditu-e would be acceptable to the na'ion. Ihs ojly way to raisa money would be to proceed with ths rdvision of the fiscil system.

The 8.1 l was referred to a Select Committee.

Mr Chamberlain's remarks, which created quite a sensation at Westminster, are inteipreted to mean that be intends pushing the fiscal revision, believing that the workers will support duties on foreign products if the money therefrom is devoted to old age psnsions.

Mr Long urged that the real difficulty was not the principle cf the pension ll , but the financial foundations, without which tbe pansions proposals were im practicable.