162 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



" ' And to this annual sum of £P>4,000,000, the State contributes 

 only the cost of administration — a sum of :£2,<S0(),OUO. 



" ' But this scheme — vast though it appears — is not to remain 

 undeveloped. Very soon it will be increased to £53,000,000 by the 

 addition of £5, 000, 000 for clerks, who do not benefit under the 

 existing arrangement, and £12,000,000 in peusions to widows and 

 orphans — one half from the contributions of the working-classes 

 and one half from employers. This development will increase the 

 State contribution to £5,000,000 a year — a sum that doubtless will 

 exceed the cost of administration. 



German Scheme Conteibutory and Compulsory 



" ' Remember, the G-erman scheme is not only contributory, but 

 compulsory — even bachelors cannot escape responsibility for the 

 widows and orphans, 



" ' Are the people content with this system of compulsory provision 

 for the years and accidents of life ? Certainly they are. Even the 

 Socialists are satisfied. 



" ' A very useful purpose is served by the meeting of employers 

 and men to manage these funds ; though the men desire to have 

 their say on the principles as well as the details. This joint action 

 is most beneficial. 



" ' Could such a system be adopted in Great Britain ? Well, we 

 must first have agreement among all parties — including the Socialists, 

 who, in our country, look to the State more than the German 

 Socialists, 



" ' We have made a beginning — and that is something, Germany 

 started in 1891, and has made great advance. Bismarck was indeed 

 a great man. He made Germany,' " 



The Liberal organ * said : — 



" LESSONS FROM GERMANY 



SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH MR, LLOYD-GEORGE 



PENSION SCHEMES 

 " finest system in the world " 



What the Radical Organ Reports, £53,000,000 in Pensions 



" ' It is,' he said, ' a far more gigantic enterprise than I had ever 

 expected to find. It is the most w^onderful piece of organisation 

 that I have ever witnessed. I have seen the whole machine in 

 detail during my journey, I have interviewed employers and 

 workmen, and I have seen the workings of the system in the central 

 offices of the Provinces, and, finally, in the great central Imperial 

 office at Berlin. You will know the details — how it covers the cases 



♦ Daily Chronicle, August 27, 1908. 



