§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether his attention has been called to the case of a man named George Wild, lately employed in Kew Gardens, who was discharged last year after 40 years' public service, and who is quite blind, and, it is stated, is " starving about the streets of Richmond; " and whether this man received any pension; and; if not, will he explain why?
§ MR. PLUNKETI am informed by the Directors at Kew that George Wild was discharged from Kew Gardens in February, 1890, and received, in accordance with the regulations in force at that time, a gratuity of £35 4s., and that from inquiries which he has made he learns that Wild is not quite blind; that his wife is employed as cloak-room attendant in Kew Gardens at 9s. 4d. a week; that he has a grown-up son, and a well-furnished house, and cannot be said to be starving about the streets of Richmond. I shall, however, inquire further into the case.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLIs it true that Wild had been for 40 years in the public service?
§ MR. PLUNKETI am aware that he had had a very long public service, and 1162 that he received a gratuity on his discharge.