OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 159, 26 June 1908, Page 3

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

THE ENGLISH BILL. • gUDUiG SCALE APX'BOYEi) 15V TIIE COMMON'S. ' London, June 11. ' In the debaU- on the Old Age l'eiisions Bill, Lord I'astlereagh moved that penMons should not at lised o( fire ihillinga ikt week, but according to the means cf the recipients. The Labor members energetically "[> posed the proposal. Mr Ucnderson declared that thousands of trade unionists and members of irn-mlly societies made , proTMion tot themselves to the extent | ,ofHi a week. That ought to entitle then to recrive pensions of at least four • shillings a week. The Lalwr l*ariy rcfvied to accept any -1 seal** wiih the contemplation of a maximum income of twelve aUillujgs or thirteen shillings • ... ', The principle of the sliding ?eaip found general acceptance iu other quartan of the lions**, but there was considembte divergence respecting the scale itself. Mr 1). LlOyd-George, Chaart-llor of vhe 'JBxefcequer, stated that a scale for intones ranging between ten shillings a Utek and fifteen shillings would be too tdbtiy, but the Government \va< considering a scale Cor income* between eight alfprrp and thirteen shillings.. He atl'vised the acceptance of the amendment aa a declaration in favor of a •eate.

'ilie Lalcr Tarty challenged, and on 1 diviaion the amendment was carried by votea to 118. Received 2Mb, 12.29 a.m. ; London, June lonl R. Cecil m'Ovcd an amendmeiil ' raising the i**uc of a contributory p» uscheme. She Government op|n»-ed the flmendMtlt, which was rejected by 340 to &». Mr. G. W. Barnes moved the deletion of the clause pmviding that perrtOns livtogether tt4iould Im- juiui j.^at reduced rale. Mr. Barnes denounced such peddling economy. The extra cost. .he said, would not exceed half a milBon. jur. Jt. MrKenna replietl unfave»ral»ly. Several Literals earnestly aj>pealed to the Government to give w~av. lir. IJoyd -George, Chancellor of the Uxehetjuer, agm*«| to give way if lufinlari Would refrain from supporting the Other amendments entailing fresh e\ penditure. Mr. Chamberlain, on l)ehalf of the Untonteta, repudiate! the liargain.

With tin; assistance of the <l<i»>ire. cbmn one and two were pa-«il, the latter —»«!» Mlenio," members wlin wi-ii-ed to reduce the pension age to li."> Il |l! iteiog permitte<l to speak. Thev rliallenged, but on a division elansi' two «»•* carried by MI votes to 124. The discussion of Hauk- thn e in ['roteeding.