IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2249, 22 July 1908, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. DISCUSSION" IX LOU DS. United Press Association. Coi-yiuciit .(Received July 21, 11.15 p.u».) LONDON, July 21, In ■tho House of Lords, the Pensions Dill was rend a second time bv y 123 t 0 10. Lord Woniyss moved that, pending tlio report of the Ito.val Commission on poor ilaw, it would bo unwise to consider Bills, of which the Pensions Bill would be one, giving an indefinite extension of out-door relief. - Lord Cromer said tho Bill was reclc- " less and without- a- solid financial foundation. It was a mortgage on the main resources of the country, for an indefinite time. Those, supposed to bo tho best friends of free trade stabbed that policy" in tho back. It crippled our position in the event of any national! emergency. It was a financial revolution. Viscount Canterbury warmly appraised the- Bill as tho first step on a ilong and toilsome journey. Tho financial aspects were very grave. It might moan lotting out the wator, hut n 0 ono was able to tell how far tho flood, might rise. Tho cost ought to be fairly divided among n'M classes. ' Ho sympathised with tho amendment, but was compelled to think of the feelings of tho country. Lord Bosebery thought the consequences of the Bill- would be-far greater than a great Reform Bill, it i vas socialism pure and simple, but somo such measnro was required. It would deal -a mortal" blow to the. private pension fund. Tho increased taxation must make many converts to protection. -Jig feared that the Empire, which recently received a new impulse, would bo wrecked- by its own finance. Both parties would make a bid for democratic support by lowering tho age and raising tho pensions. The countrv was undertaking an enormous liability with little enquiry. The prospect filled him with despair. Lord Lansdowne slid the Bill undermined the present poor law system, and created a new huge bureaucracy. It imposed a. burden heavy as the cost of a great war, but a burden from- which tho country could never secure emancipation. The financial 1 condition did not justify such an impetus of expenditure. Any European financier would say if tho Bill passed the country must stand an. a much- weaker position. - He did not advise rejection, since it was a financial Bill supported by a collossnl majority, of the Commons. He hoped, in committee, that the Govern- • ment would' not insist too severely on * J j ~-the privileges of the Commons. ■ -Lord Crewe said tho Lords might make their minds easy regarding the resources required to meet the outlay. The interests of the Empire would be protected. ■