Mr Booth's Scheme.

Mr Charles Booth is the author of the third of the great English schemes, which resembles the first in being universal and compulsory, but differs from both the preceding in not requiring any specific contributions from the individual and in not establishing any specific fund. It simply proposes that every person attaining the age of sixty-five shall be entitled to a pension of 5s a week out of general revenue, subject, however, to the one important condition that he has not during the preceding ten years been in receipt of poor relief. The minimum cost of these pensions for the United Kingdom would be £17,000,000 a year, and no special means are suggested for raising the money.