[TO THZ EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sra,—It is stated by
a correspondent in your last issue that a payment of 4d. a week from the age of twenty will secure a pension of 5s. a week at the age of sixty-five. It is no doubt within the power of every regular wage-earner to make such a payment if he or she has the strength of mind to do so ; but I venture to draw attention to the very large class of persons for whom the payment of even 4d. every week is out of the question. Our industries as at present organised demand a multitude of workers for whom only irregular or intermittent employment and wages are forthcoming ; these would be unable to make their weekly payments during their periods of unemployment when no money is coming in, and after arrears had accumulated for several weeks would give up in despair the attempt to make up lost ground. Again, society permits, and, indeed, encourages, a number of men to depend for their living solely on casual earnings ; living from hand to mouth, such men have no money that they can lay their hands upon on any given day. The vast army of the homeless who fill our casual wards and shelters can obviously come under no scheme of self-insurance. Further, little consideration seems to have been given to the case of women. Even 4d. a week is an extravagant sum to expect, of a sweated woman worker whose earnings may not rise above 8d. or 6d. a day. Besides, what of the great numbers of women classed in the census returns as " unemployed " P Married women depending for support solely on their husbands have no money to call their own, and if these were to come within such a scheme of insurance, it would require a payment of 8d. a week from the wage-earner. In fact, any scheme of self-insurance for old- age pensions seems to break down with the very people who are most likely to be destitute in old age.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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