§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that serious discontent continues to exist among the employés at Kew Gardens; and whether he would be willing to assent to an independent official inquiry (similar to that recently held at the dockyards), before which the men would have every facility for making known their grievances?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) Dublin UniversityI have no reason to believe that serious discontent exists among the employés at Kew. If they should send me a Memorial setting forth grievances and asking for inquiry, I shall, of course, carefully consider the question whether such an inquiry is necessary. Up to the present I have not received any such Memorial.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLI beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he will explain on what grounds John Lloyd has recently been discharged from Kew Gardens; whether a certificate, under the hand of the Curator, has been issued, stating that "John Lloyd has worked in the Royal Gardens, Kew, for 30 years, and he has been a good, trustworthy labourer;" and whether Lloyd has received a pension; and, if not, will he explain why?
§ MR. PLUNKETJohn Lloyd was discharged from Kew Gardens on the ground of his age. Such a certificate as that mentioned in the second paragraph of the question was given in answer to an inquiry made of the Curator on the subject. A gratuity of £30 was granted to Lloyd, but no pension can be given in conformity with the Superannuation Act of 1887.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLCan the right hon. Gentleman say what the man's age was?
§ MR. PLUNKETI think he is 67.