§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has received a letter from the Enniskillen Board of Guardians complaining that Private R. Weir, of the 27th Inniskilling Fusiliers, who was engaged at the front in South Africa, has been sent home disabled for life, and is now in Enniskillen workhouse and chargeable on the rates for the rest of his life: and whether it is proposed to give Weir a pension to enable him to support himself.
§ The following questions on the same subject also appeared on the Paper:—
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLTO ask the Under Secretary of State for War what explanation has the War Office to give for the removal from Netley Hospital of Private Robert Weir, of the 27th Inniskilling Fusiliers, who had served with his regiment all through the Natal campaign, and was sent home in an enfeebled state of body and mind, and of the deportation of this soldier, who is without a pension and has received no gratuity, to the workhouse at Enniskillen, where he is at present a pauper inmate.
MR. CHANGING (Northamptonshire, E.)To ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the attention of the War Office has been called to the transfer of Private R. Weir, 27th Inniskilling Fusiliers, wounded in South Africa, from Netley Hospital to the Enniskillen work house; whether this has been done under the order or regulations of the War Office; and whether the War Office will take steps to make a more suitable provision for wounded and disabled soldiers, either by special vote for this purpose or by arranging for the application of part of the Mansion House or other funds for the relief of such cases.
§ MR. CHANNINGBefore the hon. Gentleman replies may I ask his attention to the practical suggestions in my question?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMPerhaps the most convenient course will be to answer the three questions together.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLNo. I will ask the hon. Gentleman to answer mine separately.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe man referred to is evidently Private Robert Weir, of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who was invalided home from South Africa as a lunatic. It was certified by the medical officer who examined Weir that his madness was not the result of Army service; and therefore under the regulations no pension can be given to him. His friends were unable to receive him, and in accordance with the Army Act he was handed over to his parish authorities, who are alone responsible for his treatment.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)How long was this private in the Army? Did the doctor pass him as sane when he enlisted?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMIf the hon. Member means did the doctor pass him as sane on coming back from the Reserve, it is, I confess, a matter which requires investigation. Lunacy, I may point out, is occasionally intermittent, and a man may be subject to recurring fits at any moment.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENCould not a sum of money be voted from public funds for the relief of this man?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMI do not think the hon. Member quite sees the point. When a man, whether or not he be in the Army, is a lunatic he has to be put under proper supervision in some asylum. If that man is in possession of a pension from the Chelsea Hospital Commissioners, a portion is diverted to the funds of the asylum. When he has none, of course there is no money to go to the asylum.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENCannot the ratepayers of this particular union be relieved of the liability for his support by a grant of money from one of the many War Funds?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThat depends upon whether the lunacy is attributable to service in the Army. If it is decided it is not, as in this case, then no pension can be granted, and the charge falls on the parish.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs it a fact that this man was wounded in the war, and is at present a pauper inmate of a lunatic asylum?
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)Was he medically inspected before he embarked for South Africa?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMYes, Sir. I may add that he was not wounded. The hon. Gentleman is under a misapprehension as to that.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLHas the War Office not received a protest from the board of guardians in reference to this man being a charge on the rates?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is proceeding to argue the question, which, as it appears on the Paper, has been fully answered. If he wishes to put a further question he can give notice of it.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENThe first paragraph of my question has never been answered.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMI am not aware that a protest has been received; but it would not touch the facts of the question. The Chelsea Hospital Commissioners have power to give money in certain cases, but this is not one which comes within the category of cases to which they are permitted to vote money.