Old Age Pensions

British Dominions.

In the Irish Free State the non-con tributory scheme identical with that of Great Britain which was in existence before the severance was continued but certain modi fications were made in 1924 in the rates of pension and in the amount of means entitling to pension. The maximum rate of pension was fixed at 9/--- a week and is payable where the yearly means of the pensioner do not exceed £18.5.

As regards the oversea Dominions New Zealand was in advance of the mother country in establishing a scheme of non-contribu tory old age pensions, her scheme having been inaugurated in 1898. A non-contributory scheme operates also in Australia. In Australia the pensionable age is 65, in New Zealand 65 for men and 6o for women. ,The maximum rate of pension is I1 a week in Australia and 17/6 a week in New Zealand. In both cases a means test is applied, while in Australia the scheme is combined with a scheme of invalidity pensions. In 1927 the Dominion parliament of Canada passed an Act which provided for the pay ment by the Dominion Government of one-half of the cost of old age pensions in any province which adopted a scheme in accord ance with the provisions of the act. The pensionable age is 7o. British Columbia was the first province to establish a scheme and pensions have been paid in that province since Sept. 1927. Sas katchewan and Manitoba have also set up schemes in accordance with the Act. An announcement has been made by the Govern ment of South Africa that it proposes to set up a non-contributory scheme of old age pensions on Jan. 1, 1929, with 65 as the pen sionable age.

European Countries.

Non-contributory schemes are in force in Denmark, France and Norway. In Denmark the pensionable age is 65 and in France and Norway 7o. Contributory schemes are, however, more prevalent. Germany led the way by estab lishing a contributory scheme in 1889 under which workman and employer paid the premium, the State adding a subvention.

Her example was generally followed by those countries which established schemes after the World War. Separate schemes of old age pensions exist in Belgium and Spain but in the majority of countries the old age pension scheme is combined with a scheme of invalidity pensions. (See NATIONAL INSURANCE : Invalidity.) Combined schemes are in operation in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France (which, as stated above, has also a non-contributory scheme), Germany, Holland, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Serb-Croat-Slovene kingdom, Sweden and in the Canton of Glarus in Switzerland.

The age of 65 has been adopted by many countries as the age at which the old age pension becomes payable but in Bulgaria, France and Poland the pensionable age is 6o, in Sweden 67, and in Holland and the Serb-Croat-Slovene kingdom 7o.

America.--Of

the South American countries, Chile has a con tributory scheme of old age pensions combined with invalidity pen sions. Old age pension is payable at the age of 65. Uruguay has a non-contributory scheme combining old age and invalidity pen sions, the old age pension being payable at 6o. (See PENSIONS : THE UNITED STATES.) BIBLIOGRAPHY.-The Report of the Departmental Committee on Old Age Pensions (Cmd. 410, H.M. Stationery Office) reviews the position from the commencement of the Act of 1908 and considers various suggestions for amendment. The Report of the Government Actuary on the Financial Provisions of the Contributory Pensions Bill, 1925 (Cmd. 2,406, H.M. Stationery Office) contains a detailed explanation of the financial basis and an appendix on the statistical basis of the estimate. General Problems of Social Insurance (Inter national Labour Office of League of Nations) reviews the position and principles of social insurance. (J. M. H.)