PENSIONS FOR THE AGED POOR.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sxa,—Mr. Albert Pell's letter opens up a very wide subject,— viz., what facilities can be given to the weekly wage-earner to provide for himself in sickness and old age ? I am very glad to see that three great London Unions, embracing a population of 180,000 persons, have made up their minds to close their permanent out-relief list. I wish the Local Government Board saw its way to issuing an order to the same effect through- out the country. There might then be some hope of our people being trained in thrift and sobriety ; but meanwhile, all poor-law and social reformers may well unite in urging a Government subvention in aid of in-door maintenance, as in gaols and lunatic asylums. If once it became cheaper to keep the thriftless person in the house than out of it, out-door relief would gradually cease, in all but very exceptional cases. May we not, however, go beyond this ?
The present deferred Government annuities, which can be arranged at any Post-Office, secure a pension in old age, and can be bought for a lump sum at any time of life, or by easy instalments; but they are dear. Might not some of our useless bread doles be taken, to make them cheaper,—so that, say, 55. a week could be bought at half or two-thirds of its present price ?
Again, might not Mr Eaelley's plan of making every man
of twenty compound for sick-pay for life, which may be dona for about £15, and allowing his employer to deduct a portion of his wages till the necessary sum is made up, be considered by a Committee of those interested and experienced in Friendly Societies, with a view to ultimate action by Government ? The- Government has been urged over and over again to institute a National Friendly Society, under their guarantee. The fear of " malingering " has, I believe, been the chief difficulty in the
; but possibly some plan for a periodical bonus might be- devised, in order to counteract this tendency, which has proved_ so fatal to so many sick insurance clubs.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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