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officers in the Straits Settlements who had died shortly after retiring, in connection with a petition for a re- consideration of the retiring age, and it was certainly startling to find how many such cases there were. I have always been told that pensions must be considered as defer- red pay, and that for this reason salaries are calculated at a lower rate than would otherwise be the case, but I can hardly regard the present system whereby the pension ceases entirely on an officer's death as a reasonable method of dealing with a portion of his salary, payment of which has been deferred. It may be urged that a prudent officer should not only have saved money, but should also devote a portion of his pension to insuring his life, but many officers are not prudent as regards their private affairs, and pensions are not large enough to allow of the payment of a large premium for life insurance.
4.
I desire, therefore, to submit for Your Lordship's consideration that the Government might institute a scheme whereby an officer would contribute ten per cent of his salary and the Government add ten per cent, the sums so realised being invested by the Crow Agents and the interest allowed to accumulate. On the officer's retirement he would be paid in cash the whole amount standing to his credit, and a pension equal to half that now paid. Such a scheme would protect an officer from the result of unwise investments or other forms of improvidence, to the extent of half the pension that he can earn under the present system. This method of providing for superannuation has been adopted for some time by the larger mercantile and shipping firme in this Colony, and I have reason to think it will become more widespread. The scheme should I think be optional as many officers especially bachelors may
prefer
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