The Labour Party have, it is stated, decided to carry
on a campaign in the country during the Recess in favour of old- age pensions of five shillings a week at sixty-five, which shall be non-discriminatory and non-contributory. With this agitation will be coupled one for the adoption of Mr. Ramsay Macdonald's Unemployment Bill. Mr. Bell, M.P., and Mr. Ramsay Macdonald have informed a representative of the 'Standard that the agitation will be " a real one." That this demand for an expenditure of thirty millions a year—for that is what it means when translated into the language of finance—will be very embarrassing to the Government we do not doubt, but for this the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have only themselves to thank. It was their un- happy pledge which has done all the harm. They forgot how dangerous it is to let a tiger taste blood if you do not mean to feed him. In this connexion we may note a very interesting declaration made at the recent meeting of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The Permanent Secretary there stated that the extra contribution by Foresters required to give five shillings a week at seventy would only be three farthings a week beginning at eighteen years of age, and one penny a week beginning at twenty-four.
Previous page
