The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-31

Into operation in New South Wales. He
saws that. the New Zealand system mas
on tho whole worked smoothly; that the
maximum pension has been fixed at
eighteen pounds yearly, and although
clafnor has arisen to have 1t raised, inc
Government has successfully resisted the
augmentation on the ground that the
colony. which Is yet tho most rrospef-
Gus of all these colonies, cannot afford 1t.
In Victoria, which he says is impccun-
iors. the amount was fixed at ten shisithss
weekly, but was afterwards cut Gown
by the local ma sistratcs in the exercise
of discretion allowed them by the statute
TO an average OF a little over seven shili-
ings. In New South Wales the pension
was also fixed at ten shillngs, and that
statute has been so sympathetlcally au-
nisistcrcd by local boards that practicai-
Nv no reduction has been made.
Now. as TO the effect of this system.
He says that the Democratic 1Aii''sits
of Works, in New South Wales declares
that it is right, and that there are sohie
persons who are proud of being pension
ers hut that is not the general view.
The New zealand Government re-
f,,eos TO make the pension universal, ana
confines it to those who are IN heeo.
But the pensioners resent the Punilca-
ton of their names in the newspapers,
while in Victoria the posting up of names
;s forbidden. In New South Wales the To-
cal boards inquire into the aoiiily oi
the sons and daughters OF applicants "
support them, and sometimes REJECT Oh
applicant il these are found 10 ue wen
to-do. But in New Zealand the Leg
stature has refused to allow such IN
Guiry to be made, and the Post CORE
spondcnt says that frauds and evasiohs
are common. Some of the applicants
he says, look young for their certilleo
Years: others are evidently able-Eodled,
and some would-be pensioners make their
property over to their children IN order
to evade the clause which requires that
a nroportjonate reduction shall be made
from the amount of their pension.
: We are not surprised to learn that pen
sion attorneys are numerous and so
around hunting up applicants ior pen
sions, charging a fee for their services
The whole system is vicious and de-
n,o-alizing Perhaps it does not 90 81
much harm among these people, who 90
not breathe the American atmosphere OF
independence, but it none the less tenos
to destroy manhood and to impair en-
dcayor. When Peter found the impotent
man on the steps of the Temple IN the
act of begging, he told him that he had
no gold or silver to bestow, but that such
as he had he would give him. THE such
as he had was much better than aims
He took the poor fellow by the hand and
lifted him up and while a miracle was
performed the fact is none the less ap-
parent that he gave to the man a, certain
self-confidcnce which he lacked. lie gave
him strength to help himself. And that
is the best thing which any man or any
government can bestow.
The pension system is the antithesis OF
this. It takes the nerve and self-confl-
dence and energy out of a man and makes
him dependent upon others or course
there are some who are not able to take
care of themselves, and they must be help
cd. But we should lie sure in our pen
sion system of whatever character. that
those who receive this help are actually
dependent upon it. IL we encourage
those who are not destitute, those VINO
are able to earn a livelihood to look TO
the Government for their support, we take
out of them the best clement in humanity
1t is self reliance that makes character,
that makes American manhood Of which
we boast.