Sir John Hobhousemoved, that a sum of 50,000l. be granted to defray the charge for Compensation and Allowances to individuals in lieu of Pensions, to which they were entitled as Chelsea Pensioners,
§ Sir Adolphus Dalrymplewished to complain of the inducements held out to soldiers to commute their annual pensions for a fixed sum. Before they could emigrate to another country, they spent all their money, and were left to distress and beggary, disgracing the country which had amply provided for them.
Sir John Hobhousesaid, that Government did not encourage pensioners to take a compensation for their pensions with a view to emigration to the colonies; but 1092 when parties choosing to emigrate wished to exchange their pensions for a compensation, Government took all possible care to see that justice was done to them in their contracts with those with whom they were to sail.
§ Mr. Dixonthought, when they every day saw these persons reduced to begging, that it was high time for the Government to interfere by means of some other arrangement. Cases of starvation among these commuted pensioners appeared in the public prints day after day; but the attention of the right hon. Baronet having now been drawn to the subject, he felt confident that he would do all in his power to prevent the recurrence of so mischievous a working of the system.
§ Sir Frederick Trenchconcurred in what had fallen from the hon. Member who spoke last, and expressed a hope that too much encouragement would not be given to those who desired to get compensation in lieu of their pensions, as when they got the money they ran great risk of misapplying it.
Sir John Hobhousesaid, that every care and precaution had been taken by the preceding Government, as well as the present, to prevent any risk of misapplication. He thought he could prove, that there had been a great deal of exaggeration in the statements that had been made. It was often the case that one fact made many stories; and in this instance it was very probable that the case of one pensioner having brought himself to a state of destitution, by being told to twenty different persons, might have assumed the shape of twenty different cases. From inquiries which he had made, he was able to state, that, out of 1581 cases, which was the number of commutations made in 1831, there were only 190 of those in which any cause of grievance had taken place; and out of those 190 there were only 28 for whose welfare the War Office could not account, as far as this country was concerned. Of course, till accounts had been received from the colonies, it was impossible to say how they had thriven since they had emigrated. The compensation, he should add, was given only to those who desired to emigrate, and who had a prospect of being able to maintain themselves in the colonies to which they might wish to go. In order to guard further against any risk, it was his intention to apply to the Admiralty, to have 1093 such parties conveyed to their destination in Government transports. The right hon. Baronet (in answer to a question from Mr. Hume) added, that the number of persons who had already received compensation in lieu of pensions was 3,928, and that the saving thus made to the public was already 55,000l. a-year.
§ Motion agreed to. The House resumed.