OLD AGE PENSIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 151, 17 June 1908, Page 2

OLD AGE PENSIONS

FOR GREAT BRITAIN.

BILL BEFORE THE COMMONS.

THE COLONIAL SCHEMES.

lleceivcd Kith, 8.45 p.m.

London, .Tuns 10,

In the House of Commons, Mr. LloydGeorge, Chancellor of the Exchequer, ia moving the second reading of the Did Age Tensions Bill, promised not to insist rigidly on the 10s limit. The House might, if it chose, adopt a sliding scale.' The scheme was likely to cost 1% millions. Ho admitted tli:> colonies had .more liberal schemes, but tlicy were in a different position, having no great military or naval expense. He proceeded: "The Navy defending them is maintained by us. Could we be saved even

half of the naval and military expense the case would lie different," "Although the Opposition declared that the money required was not provided for, that was purely a quibble of. the Opposition. (Laughter), lie could assure them that the Government knew what it was doing and where the money was coming from. He added that he proposed to exclude from the operation of the Bill the characteristic test i:i respect to all those who had been members of a benefit/or

friendly society or trade union for. a de cade.

Mr. 11. Cox (member for Preston) moved an amendment strongly ing a contributory scheme on the German model. Lord Cecil seconded tile amendment, and emphasised the Socialistic elements of the measure. Mr. J. O'Grady described the Bill »s hopelessly inadequate. The Premier (Mr. Asquith) gave no-

tice of motion to allot seven days' discussion to the Bill, five whereof to be devoted to the committee stages.