OLD AGE PENSIONS IN ENGLAND AND GERMANY IGl 



later under the ardent spirit of reform wliicli is becoming 

 more manifest day by day. The " Old Age Pensions Act" and 

 the " Confiscation " Bill are but the outside sign of an inward 

 change, while the visit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer — 

 Mr. Lloyd-George — to Germany, undertaken with the professed 

 object of studying the German " Infirmity and Old Age In- 

 surance " schemes, offers but another example of this tardy 

 awakening to the pressing necessity for reform of a more 

 drastic nature than modern Governments usually care to 

 undertake. 



The people should mark well these significant signs and 

 take precautions to ensure that tlicre is no going back from 

 this first forward step in the riglit direction. The chances 

 are that Government are really aroused to the necessities of 

 the case, and are determined to do their level best to give the 

 country a scheme worthy of the name. 



Mr. Lloyd-George was interviewed immediately after his 

 return from Germany, and below will be found extracts from 

 a Liberal organ, as also from a Conservative journal, of what 

 he is reported to have said. 



The Conservative journal * has the following : — 



'« MR. LLOYD-GEORGE'S RETURN 



WHAT HE LEARNED IN GERMANY 

 £34,000,000 EVERY YEAR FOR PENSIONS 



THE STATE'S SMALL SHARE 

 virtues of contributory scheme 



Mr. Lloyd- George and the German Pension Scheme 



"Mr. Lloyd-George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, returned to 

 London yesterday with as many impressions as one strenuous month 

 in Germany can leave on an active and receptive mind. 



"The subject that engaged most of his time and thoughts was, of 

 course, the German system of pensions for the aged and incapacitated. 

 But, incidentally, other things came under his notice, and among 

 them was the German workman's home. 



" 'AVhat a gigantic scheme is theirs compared with ours ! Have 

 you any idea how much is distributed in pensions every year ? 

 Thirty-four million pounds sterling ! Think what that means — 

 £14,000,000 in sick pay — of wliich the working-classes contribute two- 

 thirds and the employers one-third ; L'l 1,000,000 in pensions to the 

 aged, and incapacitated irrespective of age — of which masters and 

 men contribute an equal share ; and £9,000,000 as compensation for 

 accidents — which employers alone have to pay. 



* Daily Mail, August 18, 1908, 



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