be guided by his own personal observation, or documentary evidence other than that already mentioned, or the sworn spoken evidence of any reputable person who deposes to what, from inquiries made by him, he believes to be true. Government officers and the police are instructed to assist claimants in the preparation and investigation of their pension claims.
In all this there is abundant evidence that several new offices will have to be created if the Act is to be administered with any degree of care; while, on the other hand, it is equally certain that if every care is not exercised in the investigation of claims many undeserving people will be awarded pensions. At the same time, it must be remembered that, once a pension has been granted, any departure from the paths of virtue on the part of the recipient will probably be quickly noted, and the pensioner will be penalised to the extent of the whole or some part of his pension, according to the magnitude of his offence.
In introducing the measure to the House of Representatives, the Premier urged that it would result in a considerable saving in the cost of charitable aid. This was at the time disputed by the opponents of the scheme, but appears to be borne out by later developments. In the Benevolent Home at Wellington at the present time, there are no less than thirty-six inmates who are entitled to the full amount of the pension; and the trustees of the Home deduct from the pension the reasonable cost of their maintenance. No figures have yet come to hand regarding similar institutions in other parts of the colony, but it may be safely assumed (and the assumption is borne out by people who are in a position to know) that the case of the Wellington Home is not an isolated one; and the Charitable Aid Vote should show a con-
