SIR TREVOR LAWRENCEasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether his attention has been directed to the case of Mr. Downs, late 672 medical officer of the Handsworth district of the West Bromwich Union, who, having filled his appointment creditably for forty years, has lately been compelled to retire through ill-health, but has been refused a retiring allowance by the Guardians, although he is in very straitened circumstances?
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply, said, he had made inquiries into the case; but the Department had no actual knowledge that the gentleman in question had applied for a retiring allowance. If he had done so, and the Guardians had refused, he (Mr. Sclater-Booth) was afraid he had no power to interfere, but, from the information he had received, it was a very hard case.