[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPICOrATOR."1
SIR,—The framers of such schemes as that of the Bishop of Lichfield (Spectator, January 18th) appear to assume that once the scheme is adopted matters will be on the same footing as if the scheme had always existed. Parents, he tells us, will be compensated for any additional burden by relief from Poor-rates. But the burden will begin at once ; the relief will not begin for fifty years. It appears to me to be of the highest importance that those who favour a contributory system, and desire to see it laid upon sure foundations, should realise that some great sacrifice must be made in order to meet the case of those who are already of an age which excludes them from the benefit of any reasonable contributory system. To such persons old-age pensions are highly attractive, and such persons possess so much voting-power in the country that it seems hopeless to carry out any scheme which would leave them entirely out in the cold. No scheme, however excellent a one it might be for posterity, is politically practicable which makes no provision to bridge over the period between the present and the distant date at which it will become fully operative. The stronger the objections to a general non-contributory scheme as a permanent institution in this country, the greater the urgency of some well-devised temporary scheme to conciliate the sympathy of that large section of the present community which can look for no personal benefit from such schemes as those suggested by the Bishop of Lichfield and the Spectator.—I am, Sir, &c., CHRISTOPHER N. JOHNSTON.
4 Heriot Road, Edinburgh.
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