OLD AGE PENSIONS IN ENGLAND AND GERMANY 107 



or that a pTisillauiinous measure of this nature can do aught 

 but harm to tliose it professes to serve ? 



Emasculating British Manhood 



Do they really believe that our pauper laws, which, after 

 all, are of a kindred nature to this " Old Age Pensions Act," 

 will do anything more than deprive a man of those character- 

 istics which are the pride and glory of his sex — the right 

 and privilege of providing for and protecting his wife and 

 little ones with his own strong right arm and — in his oion 

 way ! 



The British working-man is individually and collectively a 

 power in the State, and a power to be reckoned with. He is 

 an honest man and a stalwart champion for his own rights and 

 privileges, and that he can well look after his own interests is 

 proved by his trade unions, and other evidences of combination. 

 If lie wants anything, he is quite capable of asking for it in an 

 organised numner, which often carries conviction with it. If, 

 for example, he wanted an " Old Age Pension " scheme of 

 a non-contributory nature, he would ask for it in a plain, 

 practical manner; it doesn't follow that he would get it, 

 nevertheless he would try. 



In this particular instance the British working-men have 

 not asked for any scheme of " Old Age Pensions " which would 

 fall entirely upon the British tax-payers. 



A few malcontents who voice the preposterous demands of 

 Unreason have asked for such a scheme, but they no more 

 represent the real wants or wishes of the great array of British 

 workers than the writer voices the needs of the wild men of 

 the Andaman Islands. 



Old Age Pensions, but not Charity 



The British workman does not want charity, and those who 

 say he does simply pervert the truth. Give him a scheme 

 whereby he will himself be expected to co-operate in making 

 provision for old age, and whereunder generous, co-operative 

 aid will be given both by employer and State, and you will iind 

 he will respond readily enough. 



An " Old Ai^e Pension " scheme of this nature is the 

 working-man's right, and the tax-payers would support it ; 

 but the other scheme would be a rank injustice and a cruel 

 wrong, and they would bitterly resent it.* 



* Since this was written Mr. Lloyd-George talked volubly in his Budget 

 statement about some Pension schomo of a widespread nature, but as he has 

 not entered into explanatory details, the whole question is still in the air. 



