§ MR. MELDONasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is a fact that Dr. Alexander Smiley, who had served for nearly thirty years as medical officer of the Ballycurry Dispensary district of the same Union, had been compelled by broken health (brought about by the arduous duties he was called on to discharge) to resign his office, had been recently refused any superannuation allowance by the guardians of the said Union, although the dispensary committee of the district had unanimously recommended him for a pension; and, if so, what was the reason assigned for such refusal; and, whether, considering the public disadvantage that a medical officer should, at the age of sixty-four, after thirty years' service, and in ill health, be compelled to persevere in the attempt to perform his duties, night and day, in a district the area of which is 14,215 acres, with a population of 4,533 persons, mostly in poor circumstances, he would take some steps to avoid this public evil?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERunderstood that, in the main, the facts, as stated in the Question, were correct.
§ MR. BIGGARasked by what evidence the right hon. Gentleman said the last portion of the statement was correct?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he thought it almost spoke for itself. It would be very hard that an officer who had attained the age of 64 years should be obliged to perform the duties of such a district.
§ MR. BIGGARsaid, he asked the Question with reference to the two last lines, which stated, "with a population of 4,533 persons, mostly in poor circumstances."
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERI am afraid it is the case with many people in Ireland.
§ MR. BIGGARNo; it is not.