§ SIR JOHN GORSTI beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Richard Rigden, employed in the smithery at Chatham Dockyard, had both his hands cut off by defective machinery in August 1893; that the machine had been reported on as defective before the accident, and was removed immediately after; whether the Lords of the Admiralty awarded Richard Rigden a pension of 1s. 4d. per diem as compensation for the loss of both hands; and, whether they will consider whether the amount of this pension should be augmented?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThis lamentable accident certainly occurred, but not at all under the circumstances stated in the question. The machine was in good working order, and had not been reported as defective, and was not removed until 12 months after the accident, and then only because a more modern machine capable of larger output of work was brought into use. Rigden has been awarded a pension of £41 14s. 3d. a year; of this £20 17s. 1d. was for his service, and £20 17s. 1d. extra on account of his injuries, being the maximum addition which the Trea- 36 sury are empowered to grant on account of injury.
§ SIR J. GORSTgave notice that he would take an early opportunity of calling attention to the wholly inadequate compensation which this Government allowed for injuries of this kind.