4 OCTOBER 1913, Page 30

[To TRH EDITOR OP TEE "SPECTATOR. "] Sin,—Surely there must be

a good deal of confusion in the mind of Mr. Allen if he sees any resemblance between old-age pensions and the pensions of ex-Cabinet Ministers, officers and soldiers in the Navy and Army, and Civil Servants. The latter class receive pensions because they have earned them in the service of the State. Indeed, the pensions of all these, except ex-Cabinet Ministers, can be regarded as deferred pay. Whoever heard of "earning" an old-age pension? All a man has to do to qualify for his pension is that he should, through. out life, have been so self-indulgent and improvident that he has been unable to put by enough to maintain himself in decent comfort in his old age.—I am, Sir, &o., Barkham Manor, Wokingham, Berks. WILSON NOBLE.