Hill. — National Pensions. 703 



6. Competition is so strong, employment so uncertain, and 

 wages so diverse that direct provision for sickness, bad times, 

 and old age is impossible to a large proportion of the popula- 

 tion in every community. 



7. Poverty is not a crime, and old age and poverty are 

 certain under our present social and commercial systems. 



8. Charity organizations, poor-houses, refuges, are un- 

 worthy of our enlightened civilisation. 



9. People should be trained by the State to anticipate the 

 future, and schemes should be devised having this end in 

 view. 



10. Friendly societies and assurance companies offer cer- 

 tain benefits, but they are open to serious defects such as a 

 State system only can amend. 



11. No system other than one established by the State 

 could confer pensions and destroy charity such as is now 

 recognised by the general and local government authorities. 



The advantages of a pension scheme such as is proposed 

 are : — 



1. Self-reliance and independence are fostered among the 

 people. 



2. It is equitable and self-sustaining. 



3. It treats men and women on terms of equality. 



4. It gives independence to individuals at a time when 

 least capable of opposing the influence of capital and com- 

 panies. 



5. It binds the classes and masses together in such a way 

 that individualism and socialism may work together for the 

 common good. 



