The decision of the House of Commons that £1 a month shall be deducted from members' salones for the purpose of establishing a fund for the provision of pensions of £180 per annum for needy ex-members of the House, is a step which will be welcomed as one which should have been taken a very long time ago. Quoting the words of the Prime Minister s entirely against "the respect and dignity of the House" that former members or their dependents should, having fallen on evil times, be forced to eke out a miserable life on meagre sums, or with the assistance of the Poor Law Relief. Members of Parliament like other mortals are subject to the ups-and-downs of life. The man who may be a successful legislator, may find. because of his close application to the affairs of his country, that his business is slipping away from him. Indeed it may be entirely lost, simply because of his devotion to the state. There are many members of the House of Commons who have nothing but their salaries upon which to live, particularly amongst the Labour member: Out of that meagre £000 per annum they have to find a considerable proportion for the various charities of their constituencies; may have to find at least part of the money required to fight elections, though here the Pariy funds are of some assistance; but even then there are cases where members dependent only upon their salaries have a thin time while actually attending Parliament. Failure at an election ly mean to them a most grievous blow and the necessity of finding employment which for some of them. particularly after having reached a certain age, may prove exceedingly difficult. In view of these facts a fund which should provide for forty-eight necessitous cases is something which should prove highly desirable. and an effective means of relieving this particular form of distress.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.