MR. BOOTH'S PROPOSAL.
rTO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,-It is manifest that any one who can make the suggestion "that we should turn the aged wards of the Unions into pleasant asylums for old age, or increase outdoor relief until it was for the limited class admittedly sufficient," cannot canvass Mr. Booth's views with sympathy. The purpose in view of the promoters of the scheme which Mr. Booth adopts, was not simply to relieve old-age poverty, but to do it in such a way as will help to exterminate pauperism. In many ways, as Mr. Booth shows, the five-shilling pension would tend in this direction.
The two points of the scheme which are specially to be noted in it are :—(1.) The offering of a pension which, though small enough not to be adequate in itself, is yet large enough to make thrift-efforts valuable. (2.) The penalty of the work- house, when inflicted, would be deemed equitable if levied on those who had done nothing to help themselves, or make others help them.
On the other hand, to make the " house " a pleasant place, or to give large outdoor relief, would certainly be to offer a: premium to a thriftless life, by making the wastrel feel that if he could rub on till sixty-five, he would then be certain of a. comfortable ending to his unworthy existence.—I am, Sir, &c.„
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