158 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



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. 



Here we have, then, in brief outline, a far-reaching scheme 

 of Old Age Pensions which, it will be seen later on, has 

 enormously improved the condition of German workers, and 

 the question that has deep concern for the people of this 

 country is — what are we going to do with it? Shall we set 

 to work in earnest, and shape and fashion the German scheme 

 so as to render it suitable to the requirements of our workers, 

 or shall we treat it with that disregard and indifference which 

 characterise the administration of so many of our national 

 problems ? 



What Gekmany foresaw 



Twenty years ago Germany saw the necessity of helping 

 her workers, and she gave them the " Infirmity and Old Age 

 Insurance Act" of 1889. This splendid pension scheme was 

 not the result of petty political tinkering, but the work of wise, 

 far-seeing, and patriotic German Statesmen, who, recognising 

 what was necessary in the interests of their fellow-countrymen, 

 loyally gave them a measure of real usefulness which would 

 enable every worker to make provision for sickness, infirmity, 

 and old age. 



That the scheme has been an unqualified success is proved 

 by the vast sums paid yearly to German workers, which will be 

 referred to later. 



The English Scheme a Legalised State Charity 



The Government has recognised the necessity of action by 

 passing the "Old Age Pensions Act," but that measure is 

 tentative rather than permanent, and palliative instead of 

 being truly remedial. 



No non-contributory scheme can possibly meet all the 

 requirements of the case, and it is most regrettable that so 

 imperfect a measure was ever launched upon the country. 



The utmost that can be said in favour of this scheme is, 

 that as many of our aged poor, who will benefit under the Act, 

 have been reduced to their present pitiable condition rather 

 through the neglect and maladministration of past governments 

 than by their own fault, it is right and proper that they should 

 now receive some compensation. 



A scheme of this nature, which is nothing but another 

 legalised State Charity on a vast scale, should end with the 

 lives of the present recipient^ aud theu become merged in a 



