Mr. Morley, speaking at Newcastle on Saturday to a meeting
of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds, made a very effective criticism of Mr. Chamberlain's scheme for old- age pensions. We have dwelt elsewhere on the main portion of his speech, but may note here that he is evidently attracted by Mr. Booth's plan for universal pensions after sixty-five- He admits, however, that the raising of the necessary £10,000,000 a year is a fatal objection, and notes that "a very illustrious Chancellor of the Exchequer," in whose com- pany he was when he first heard of the project, was stupefied at the proposal. It is evident that Mr. Morley, who agrees that something should be done for "the virtuous poor" who cannot work through old age, and who yet have no savings to support them, inclines to a relaxation of the existing system in their behalf. We have relaxed the law of 1834 in favour of the children, and of the sick paupers, who since 1869 have had hospital treatment : might not we, then, relax it in favour of the virtuous poor whose only fault is inability to work from old age P There seems to us to be a good deal in the plea, but we should like to hear what Mr. Loch and the Poor-Law experts have to fay on the subject.
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