ASPECTS OF OLD AGE PENSIONS. 



stage of independence — in the maintenance and support 

 of 38 helpless young and aged dependents. It will be 

 seen, therefore, that while the young and helpless forming 

 36.57 per cent, of the population have only an ethical 

 claim upon parents and the State for care and maintenance, 

 and education ; tin* deservin<2!' aj^ed 1>readwinners who are past 

 work, aged 65 and over — and only forming 1.28 per cent. 

 of the population, and about 38.73 per cent, of the group 

 65 years of age and over — - have both an ethical and 

 economic right of claim to be honourably provided for by 

 the present active breadwinners of the State generally, in 

 return for the services rendered by such of the survivors 

 of those breadwinners who supported, maintained, and 

 educated the present generation of breadwinners during 

 their helpless earlier stage of childhood. 



Let us, for closer comprehension of this aspect of the sub- 

 ject, take for illustration the following case of a bread- 

 winners who marries at the age of 23 ; has 8 children at 

 the age of 55. Each child has been maintained and 

 educated up to the age of 15 years. The age of the bread- 

 winner at the birth of each child is assumed at the age of 

 24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 35, 37, and 41 respectively. 



The chief breadwinner becomes a charge upon his eight 

 children at the age of 65 years until his death at the 76th 

 year of his age. The ages of the supporting breadwinner s 

 children at parent's 65th year of age, and at his death at 

 the 76th year are as follows : — 



1st child. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. 5th. 6th. 7th. 8th. 

 Age at Parent's 65th year ... 41 .39 37 35 32 30 28 23 

 Age at Parent's 76th year ... 



50 48 46 43 41 39 34 



