THE GERMAN PAUPER QUESTION ^^ 



not VAGRANTS, tramps or those who will not work. 

 Nor are the workmen's insurance laws a chari- 

 table scheme. They are unlike mere Poor Law relief 

 measures, in that they confer on every insured person 

 a LEGAL right to a fixed modicum of assistance in 

 case of sickness, accident, infirmity or old age, in return 

 for which they have themselves contributed an obolus to 

 the fund from which they receive such assistance." 



The German " Infirmity Insurance Act " is of a type 

 that, while compelling thrift, builds up, at the same 

 time, out of self-help, a feeling of independence, reliance 

 and freedom, which is so dear to every honest, right- 

 minded man and woman. 



Our workpeople, as citizens of the Empire, want a 

 reasonable, practical recognition of their claims to con- 

 sideration, and not charity. The Government have an ex- 

 cellent opportunity of showing them such consideration 

 by the introduction of some scheme of old age and in- 

 firmity pensions, which, while insuring the obligatory 

 insurance of all persons working for wages or salary 

 whose income does not exceed, say, £ioo per annum, 

 will improve the position of the people by encouraging 

 co-operation, thrift and economy; some sensible scheme 

 in short, that will help the people, and not humiliate 

 them; that will uplift and not cast down, and that will 

 provide for, and not pauperise, them. 



It will be borne in mind in connexion with the Ger- 

 man scheme that although it is a co-operative arrange- 

 ment between State, employer and employed, the 

 employers and employed contribute two-thirds in equal 



