no 



The Review of Reviews. 



February SO, 1906. 



Wiley and Co. Limited.} [Photo. 



The Late Sir H. Nelson 

 (Late President of the Queensland Legislative Council). 



as Premier. The Morgan Government has retained 

 the confidence of the people for a considerable time, 

 and as Mr. Kidston is a man who knows what he 

 wants, and is bent on getting it, and as his line of 

 policy is identical with that of the late Morgan Go- 

 vernment, there is not likely to be any change for 

 some time to come. It was suggested in some 

 quarters that Mr. Denham would take the place 

 vacated by Mr. Morgan, but if he felt himself 

 passed over, he very wisely kept it to himself, and 

 as a member of the Kidston Government will work 

 in harmony with his colleagues. Nothing would be 

 .gained, but a very great deal would be lost, by the 

 advance of any personal interest at a time like this. 

 While the elements were in solution, the introduction 

 of a personal matter might have caused a precipita- 

 tion which would have wrecked the Party. 



The Federal Old Age Pensions' 

 Federal Old Age Commission will shortlv be present- 

 Commission. in S its re P ort > ar \ d probably before 

 most readers read this it will have 

 been submitted to the Cabinet. There is probably 

 no Federal subject which has more immediate con- 

 cern for the electors than that of old age pensions. 

 In the States where it has been adopted it has- 

 proved to be attractive and acceptable, but it is a 

 matter of Federal concern. It certainly does seem 

 superfluous that the States should continue to under- 

 take the work. Seeing that we now are Federal 

 citizens, there ought to be no bar to a man, as a 

 Federal inhabitant, receiving a pension, as there is 



Ptulsen] [Photo. 



Hon A. Morgan 



(Ex-Premier of Queensland, and now President of the 

 Legislative Council). 



now if he happens to migrate from one State to 

 another. Twenty or twenty-five years' residence (or 

 whatever it may be) anywhere in the Commonwealth 

 should be sufficient to entitle one to a pension. Of 

 course the great difficulty which the Commission has 

 had to face has been one of finance. Indeed, it is 

 about the only question of difficulty in the whole 

 situation. The desirability of Old Age Pensions is evi- 

 dent, the necessity for it is plain, but where to get the 

 money is a different matter. Clearly, it should not be 

 looked upon as a charitable grant. New South 

 Wales does right in saying that it is a gift by the 

 State to citizens who have borne the burden and 

 heat of the State day. It is estimated that about 

 ;£i, 000,000 a year will be required, and it is much 

 easier to speak of this than to raise it. It is diffi- 

 cult to see how it can be provided without extra 

 taxation, and unless the Federal Government loads 

 the Customs, it can only be raised by the co-opera- 

 tion of the States, and by their consenting to hand 

 over a part of their revenue. There should be no 

 objection to this, especially if each of the States 

 adopted such an advanced charitable aid scheme 

 of reform and made such a success of unemployed 

 measures that the Old Age Pension really assisted all 

 who were in indigent circumstances, and minimised 

 the need for extra assistance. Seeing that some- 

 thing like ^2, 000,000 is spent in charitable aid in 

 Australia, it is clear that if Old Age Pensions be 

 federalised. some steps should be taken to prevent 

 the need for indiscriminate charity. To-day it is 

 shockingly necessary because we fail to grapple with 



