434 



The Review of Reviews. 



June 1. 1906. 



A Humane Provision — Old Age Pension Pay-Day in New Zealand. 



In New Zealand in Victoria, and in New South Wales the Governments grant Old Ajre Pensions and it is .[Uitea revelation to strangers 

 comin- te the count'rv to see the old men and women attendin- for their monthly allowance. This picture shows the monthly pay-day in one 

 of the New Zealand offices In New Zealand last year the pensioners included four centenarians two of whom were 1(13 years old. It 18 to be 

 hoped that very soon the Federal Parliament will'talie charge of Old Age Pensions in Australia, and extend them over the whole area. 



Extended 

 Federal Powers. 



That is ven,- fair. Eacli State is entitled to erect 

 conservation works, and to retain as much water 

 as it can conserve in times of flood, there being no 

 limit to what may be done in this direction. It 

 is a common-sense arrangement to have come to, 

 and one that gives no State anj' real advantage over 

 the other. 



One very notable feature in connec- 

 tion with the Premier's Conference 

 was the acceptance of the principle 

 of Federal Old Age Pensions. 

 There are some things which must become Federal, 

 and that soon, notably the Railways and Old Age 

 Pensions' administration. The States are anxious 

 that ordinar\' revenue should not be interfered with, 

 but if this be done, the only other way that is sug- 

 gested for the money to be raised is by a Land 

 Tax. This, it is hoped bv some and feared by 

 others, will eventuate, if the scheme becomes a 

 reality. 



Mr. Bent, the 'Victorian Premier, 

 has been making up his mind about 

 the emplo\Tnent of prison labour on 

 public works. He says he feels that 

 it might be utilised with pecuniary profit to the 

 Stare and personal profit to the prisoners, if they 

 ■were employed in works such as land reclamation. 



Prison labour 



an 

 Public Work. 



clearing and road-making. A crv has been raised 

 against it bv some sections of the community, who 

 are afraid that it may close the door of work to 

 others. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the State 

 has to feed and clothe the unhappy mortals who 

 are confined in our gaols, and it is only reasonable 

 that the cost of their keep should be made as little 

 as possible. Moreover, if they are compelled to 

 work, they may just as well be employed in that 

 which will bring profit and convenience to the State, 

 seeing that it is against the State that they have 

 offended. But there is another question involved. 

 Work is a necessity to every man. The best \vill 

 depreciate if idle, and of all the people in the world 

 those who most need work are those who are shut 

 up from contact with their fello^vTnen. The re- 

 generation of the prisoner is one of the main reasons 

 why this plan should be carried out. Of course, the 

 only way in which the work can be made to fulfil 

 the best end is to take the men into the country, 

 where they can have proper supervision, and gain 

 the best advantages that accrue from pure air and 

 countrv life. More than that, the prisoners, who 

 would be credited with some financial benefit for 

 their work, would have something to start with when 

 becoming free men again. This would go a long way 

 towards giving them a start in an honourable career. 



