The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1897. THE OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 31, 3 December 1897, Page 17

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1897. THE OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL.

» EMBERS of the House, and especially those on the Opposition side of it, are haidly to be congratulated on the way in which they have treated the Premier's Old Age Pension Bill. Almost everyone admits that some sort of scheme is eminently desirable, and that there is an obligation on the State to do something for the hard-working colonist who has reached sixty-five, and begins to feel his physical powers exhausted. The cases in which these veterans of labour have saved enough money to support themselves are extremely rare, and in the great majority of instances they have nothing to look forward to but an appeal to the tender mercies of the various organisations for distributing charitable aid. It is further admitted, by all who have given any thought at all to the subject, that the framing of anything approaching a practical workable scheme is beset with difficulty. The subject has received the attention of the Governments not only of England and of nearly all Englishspeaking countries, but also of Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, etc., yet no scheme has so far been devised to which some exception cannot be taken. This being the case, it is clear that we arc not likely to get any scheme at all adopted unless our legislators approach the question in a sympathetic spirit and with a genuine desire to make the best solution possible of what is admittedly a most complicated and Unotty problem. This is precisely what our legislators have not done. Honourable Members, and particularly Opposition Members, have, we might almost say, conspired to heap amendment upon amendment to the Bill, and while some of their proposals arc reasonable enough, others are obviously intended to wreck the measure by making it unworkable. Neither is there any real obscurity or confusion in the framing of the Bill to justify this multiplication of " amendments." Mr. Scome McKenzie's comment that " no man in the heaven above or in the earth beneath can understand it," is simply one of that honourable gentleman's little epigrammatic exaggerations which contains even less than half a truth. The main provisions of the Bill are clear and simple, and if Mr. Scobie McKenzie says in all seriousness that he cannot understand them he only writes an indictment on his own intelligence. One of the points which usually furnish a serious obstacle in the way of old-age pension schemes is the quest'on of finance. So far as the scheme now under discussion is concerned the Colonial Treasurer is able to give a satisfactory assurance as to his ability to find the necessary funds, so that all immediate difficulty on that score is removed. The question as to whether or not the pensions should be universal then remains as the real crux of the proposals. In this case neither proposal is free from difficulty. If the pensions be limited (as proposed in the Bill) to persons whose annual income does not exceed a certain sum, the persons who apply under those circumstances for a pension are necessarily placed under more or less of a stigtna. If, on the other hand, the pensions arc made payable to all who are over sixty - five years of age and have resided for a certain number of years in the Colony the expense would be greater than the country could afford. In our view the ideal scheme is undoubtedly the one in which the pensions are universal and every man can

claim it as of right, so that no injury is done to his independence and self-respect. If, however, as Mr. Seddox says, the country could not possibly afford the sum necessary for that purpose, and if the choice is between the partial pension and none at all there should be no hesitation in cheerfully accepting and making the best of what the country can afford to do. It is at least a beginning and is almost certain to lead to the development of a more perfect scheme later on. We note that the principle of the partial pension has been accepted by the House by a large majority, the proposal to make the pensions universal having been netratived by 3G to 21. The remaining provisions of the Bill are really matters of detail as to which, if members arc genuinely anxious to adopt the scheme, there should be no occasion for serious difficulty. It is rumoured that as the Bill is a money Bill and the Legislative Council are not at liberty to amend it they will absolutely reject the measure. That, however, remains to be seen. In any case it must be admitted that Mr. Seddon has made a serious and earnest attempt to grapple with this great question, and has shown himself ready to give full and fair consideration to every reasonable amendment proposed. If the measure be wrecked or rejected the blame at least cannot be laid at the Premier's door.

At Vespers at Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday night the pulpit was occupied by the Very Rev. Dean Burke who gave a very able sermon on " The Reunion of Christendom." We need scarcely again remind our Dunedin readers of the entertainment to be given by the pupils of the Christian Brothers' sshool at the City Hall on Friday night. The programme is a oapital one and we are sure there will be a crowded house. During the past week we have received parcels of used stamps for Father Kreymborg's mission from the following : — Miss Macedo, Dunedin (who also sent 4s worth of unused stamps) ; and Thomas L. Cag-ney, Oamaru, (aged 14). The following subscriptions to the South Dunedin Catholic Orphanage have been received during the week : — Mr. J. Fox, £1 ; Mrs. Collins (Gore), 10s ; Mr. P. M'Enroe (Addison's Flat, West Coast). £1. Contributions towards the erection of the Orphanage will be thankfully received by the Sisters of Mercy. South Dunedin. and by the Catholic clergy of Dunedin, and will be duly acknowledged in the columns of the Tablet. Constable Hexdhick. of Seddonville and late of Dunganville, after being in the police foro for over thirty years, has retired from the service, compensation being granted. He has been located at Seddonville for about bix months ; it is his intention to enter into farming pursuits at Hokitika. The name of his successor has not been disclosed. — (ire y Star. It is with extreme regret (writes our Ilnwera correspondent) that we record the death of Sergeant James Slattery, of this town. For some time past he had been suffering from an affection of the heart, and despite all efforts of the doctors he aradually sank until the end came on last Thursday. During the time the deceased gentleman resided in Hawera he made many friends, who now sympathise warmly with his widow and family. He was attended most faithfully throughout his illness by the Rev. Father O'Shea, and made a most edifying preparation for death, his resignationa tion to God's holy will being exemplary. Truly his was the death of a Catholic who had faithfully observed the rules of his Church during life. On Saturday the funeral took place, leaving St. Joseph's Church at noon. It was followed by Inspector McGovern and several members of the police force. The " Dead March in Saul"' was played by Miss Flynn as the funeral cortege left the church. Rev. Father O'Shea officiated at the grave. On Sunday the late Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of Sergeant Slattery. — R.I.P. At the close of the very successful performance at Oamaru, which is fully reported in another column, the Very Rev. Dean Mackay, in proposing a vote of thanks to the performers, said: — He had been asked, on behalf of the children, to thank them for their attendance in such numbers, and for their kind encouragement shown by their generous applause. Personally, however, he thought that both himself and the audience had more reason to thank the children for the delightful treat they had afforded them that night. It was only just to give praise when praise was due, and the children had honestly earned a large meed of it. Their performance had far exceedul his most sanguine expectations, and he could assure them that they might travel far over the colonies, and enter many educational establishments, and not he.ir the equal of what had greeted their ears that night. It was something to

fill the hearts of parents with honost pride and joy, but above all of ; gratitude towards those who had laboured so hard, and he was happy to say so successfully, to develop the talents of those little ones to produce the magnificent result of that evening (prolonged and hearty applause). L

On Friday last, Mr. Martin P. Kenny, of 270 Colombo street, Christchurch, had a confidential meeting by appointment at the Government Buildings, Cathedral Square, with Col. Pole Penton commander of the forces in New Zealand, relative to the "Kenny gun." Col. Penton, who is an artillery officer of great repute, has promised Mr. Kenny to do all he can to assist him in having his invention given a trial, and will calculate pressures, velocities, etc., as far as possible, till a working model can be made. As the gun and its shell are entirely new departures very little can be done till a company is formed to make the model gun and a few projectiles. Mr. Kenny -would be glad to meet persons who take an interest in this sort of thing, and who would be willing to ]oin or form a company to carry it out, as he himself is not in a position to do so. The gun is intended to throw a large charge of explosives a considerable distance, mainly for attacking battleships and cruisers in harbour, even though they are protected by booms and netting. Its range will be greater than the Fuirnie Torpedo (now used), its destructive power will be the same. It can be carried by small vessels &uch as the present constructing T.B. destroyers, and as it passes through the air instead of the water, it cannot be stopped by the present mode of defence. This is the sort of invention that now brings money, Brennan, of torpedo fame, having got over £50,000 and a fine position for his, and now his is almost obsolete, as the netting stops it. The Zalinski only throws a small shell, as also the latest gun of this type the Sims-Dudley. The idea of this mode of attack was suggested to the inventor's mind last year while watching in Bantry Bay, County Cork, the ineffectual attack by torpedoes of the Special Service Squadron, Booms stopped all but the smallest vessels, one of which jumped it, and the crinoline or netting stopped all the torpedoes ; while, if attacked by his gun, having got the range, the vessel carrying it could lie in shelter out of machine or heavy gun fire and destroy the fleet at its anchorage.

Owing to pressure on our space we are compelled to holdover till next issue our notice of the exhibits of Messrs. Morrow, Bassett and Co. and of a number of other firms at the Agricultural Show, together with correspondence from Wanganui and from Tuapeka Flat.