HC Deb 23 August 1889 vol 340 cc245-6
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Monaghan, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Board of Works have received intimation of the dismissal, by the Lagan Navigation Company, of two lock-keepers on the Ulster Canal, named Isaiah M Quay and John Wall, after services of 29 and 49 years respectively, on the ground of old age and incapacity; and, whether the Board of Works will make any provision in the shape of pension or allowance to enable these men to maintain themselves without becoming chargeable on the poor rates?

THE SECRETABY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.

I have a little difficulty in answering this question. An hon. Member has given me a letter which, I understand, comes from one of these men, distinctly stating that he has been dismissed; but, on the other hand, I have received a telegram informing me that he is still in the service of the Lagan Navigation Company. I will make further inquiry.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I have received a letter from one of these men, in which he states that he was dismissed in March last. It is very odd that the men themselves should say that they have been dismissed, and that the Board of Works should say they have not.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

These two men were appointed by the Board of Works. Does it follow that they are not entitled to pensions because they are able to take service in their old age under the Lagan Navigation Company?

MR. JACKSON

The pension question is somewhat abstruse, and I cannot answer the query of the hon. Gentleman unless I know the precise details. I will endeavour to get at the truth of these conflicting statements. It is not the Board of Works which is concerned, but the Lagan Navigation Company.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Wall states in his letter that he has been in the service of the Company for 49 years, and that he received a letter from the Board of Works informing him that after March his services would be no longer required. Since then he has made two applications for the reconsideration of his case, but even the receipt of his communications have not been acknowledged.

MR. JACKSON

I presume the question which arises is whether he has been taken over by the Lagan Navigation Company. He is probably right in stating that he has ceased to be employed by the Board of Works; but he is now employed by the Lagan Company.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

If a man is retired in the Army, and is employed in some other capacity, does it follow that he does not get his pension?

MR. A. O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

Will the Secretary to the Treasury refresh his memory by what took place before the Committee on the Lagan Navigation Bill? That Committee was distinctly under the impression that no vested interest in regard to a pension would be destroyed or injured by the transfer of the Canal from the Board of Works to the company.

MR. JACKSON

I still adhere to the statement which was made before the Committee, and there is no desire to depart from it.