Speaking at Manchester on 10th July 1885, he said:
*'We have only to look at the proportion of persons
over sixty-five years of age who are compelled to seek
poor relief, in order to see if it is possible to do some-
thing to ameliorate their lot, and to soften the last
days of those who, in the time of their strength and
of their prosperity did good work for their families
and society. Now, I have never disguised from myself
that the question is surrounded with difficulties, but
in regard to those difficulties I will say this much —
that, though it is possibly beyond the power of the
State to ensure that in every case of a poor person
surviving the age of sixty-five there should be a
pension provided other than that already secured out
of the rates by the Poor-Law system, nevertheless, I
cannot doubt that by the aid of the Friendly Societies,
and probably by an alteration of the existing system
of Poor-Law classification, it may be possible — it must
be possible — to prevent those who have led honour^

248



POLITICAL QUESTIONS

Able and abstemious lives, wortby of a citizen of this
country, from being in their old age classed with those
"who have been the worthless waifs and strays, the
veaste products, the useless members of the society to
^which they belong."

Mr Balfour referred to the question in his 1896
election address, and in November 1898 he reiterated
the views he expressed in his Manchester speech. The
South African war has prevented any scheme being
put forward during the last three years, but should
any feasible proposals be formulated, Mr Balfour
would, no doubt, give them his individual support, and if
they were practicable possibly adopt them as a Govern-
ment measure. It is a huge question, which bristles
with difficulties, but whether any steps are taken to
solve the problem in future or not, Mr Balfour is not
likely to give his sanction to any scheme of wholesale
pensions without discrimination as to need or merit,
and which does not work on the principle of self-help.
