OLD AGE ANNUITIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3068, 15 March 1892, Page 2

OLD AGE ANNUITIES.

TO THE KUITOB. Sir,— I was glad to see your leader on the dismal end of the great mass of pour people. When old age overtakes a large proportion of the population of this or any other civilised country, and labour is no longer possible to them, there 13 nothing but a miserable ending as paupers to a great many of those who have done the most to th building up of its prosperity. The efforts that Mr Chamberlain is making in England for providing annuities for old people are worthy of pr.u'se. The efforts of the German Emperor in the same direction prove that under governments where liberty is extremely restricted, and the welfare of the higher classes considered to be of the first importance, yet the poor in old age cannot be disregarded. In the case of the greater part of tho population in most civilised countries, the accumulation of wealth is impossible, and wage-earners, whether as clerks or by hand labour, will in these days of machinery be a numericaljy increasing class. So many are the daily wants in civilised life that saving is seldom attempted, and when old age csmes, and labour impossible, there often comes a heart-broken ending to an industrious and honourable life. The increasing calls upon our old men's refuge show that the want i»f some better provision for helpless old age is already felt in New Zealand. lam not acquainted with all the details of any of the plans for raising annuities, nut all should include some self-sacri-lice from the annuitant, as well as help from other quarters. There need he no degradation by accepting an old age annuity. The English permanent Secretary of State, after twenty or twenty-five years' service, is often rewarded not only with a pension but a peerage, and retires into the serene atmosphere of the House of Lords. Other Government servants become government pensioners, and after faithful service performed, it is right that they should. Unfortunately under nearly all Governments there are billets created that we not wanted, there are pensions bestowed for worthless services. The most contemptible paupers sponging on the poor law are not more mischievous cankers on society than such persons. On the twelve or fifteen shillings a week earned by agricultural labourers in Enp.land, it is utterly impossible for a labouring man with a family to sare money. It generally taxes his ingenuity to keep out of debt. When such a man comes to tho time when labour is no longer possible, he reluctantly seeks relief frjm the Board. The man has been an honest agricultural labourer, adding largely to the vast stock of accumulated wealth in England. Hβ is known to many members of the Board who are as grieved to see him there, as he is to be there, but they are sent there to keep the rates down to the 1 iwest possible point. They givohim, if out-door relief, the lowest sum on which he can exist. If there is in that union a determination against all out-door relief, he must come to the great house. Its excessive cleanliness, the rigidity of its laws and management, his not being allowed to move outside tho house without leave from the Board, and for that he must wait until the Baard day. If he is married, he and his old wife are parted. There are in all English poor houses, sets of paupers who live on for years, but this old man is not of such a set. The sense of degradation in this drill-sergeant kind ot life eats into his j soul every day. He soon dies and is for gotten, another comes and takes his place and soon goes the same road, whilst the regnlar habitues seem as tough as pin wire and wen't die. The miserable heart broken mid of such men us these, makes me long for some kind of old nge annuities. I am not writing this without personal knowledge. From a more than twenty-years' experience as an English poor law guardian and visitor of the house, I became thoroughly acquainted with the class of men who lived, and the class of men who died, and the men who died were as certainly imiHered as if a dagger had been driven through their hearts.—l am, i-tc. Jos •(■ Bahugh.