The Pall Mall Gazette of Monday gives a most striking
account of the way in which the Macclesfield Board of Guardians are trying to solve the problem of the aged poor. They have established "privilege wards" for old persons of good behaviour who are over sixty, which are completely cut off from the quarters occupied by the ordinary paupers. These "privilege wards" are bright, sunny, neatly furnished rooms, and the people who live in them have easy-chairs and comfortable beds. The inmates are allowed to take with them when they go there anything to which they are particularly attached, providing it be not of a cumbersome or objectionable nature, and this makes the wards "home-like." "The old women may keep their favourite cats, the old men their birds, or anything for which they chance to have a special fancy." They may also raise flowers for the decoration of their rooms, and they have the pick of everything that comes into the workhouse in the way of books and newspapers. There are certain other much-valued privileges, the chief of which is the right to a cup of tea in the afternoon. These indulgences are, however, liable to instant forfeiture in case of bad behaviour ; and the Committee only grant admission to the "privilege wards" when they are assured that the cases are deserving. This humane treatment of the old people who have entered the workhouse through inability to continue at work is stated to involve very little, if any, extra burden on the ratepayers. It is very in- teresting, as well as very hopeful, to see in this experiment, and in the growing movement among the benefit societies and popular insurance companies to induce their members to take old-age benefits, the effect of Mr. Chamberlain's action in the matter. Till he moved, nothing was done to touch this most important problem.
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