Lord Crewe, who wound up the debate for the Government,
spoke, as he always does, with charm and ability, but it was beyond his power to make out a good case for this ill-starred measure. He tried to meet Lord Cromer's point as to the injury done to Free-trade by asserting that it would be very injurious if Free-traders were to go to the country and say :—
We Free-traders are bankrupt in this respect. We cannot provide you with old-age pensions, whereas the noble Lords opposite say that they can provide ten millions of taxation on goods, and that they will set apart this money for old-age pensions.' If that is the attitude in which we Free-traders are to go to the country, I confess that we do not go with a very good case, because the noble Viscount (Lord Ridley) and his friends undoubtedly can provide the money for old- age pensions."
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