§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if the case of W. Chambers, of Ledbury, who for thirty-two years was employed as an unestablished rural postman, and who had received six good conduct stripes, comes within the terms of the service rule regulating the grant of compassionate allowances or bonuses, instead of pension; and, if so, will this man be granted a bonus.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINAlthough Chambers had altogether more than thirty-one years service, his wages were paid out of an allowance to the postmaster up to the 9th November, 1889, and until that date, therefore, he was a servant, not of the Department, but of the postmaster. Chambers's service subsequent to November, 1889, did not amount to fifteen years—the minimum period necessary to render him eligible for the award of a compassionate gratuity under the Superannuation Act, 1887—and it was not possible, therefore, to obtain for him on his retirement any award under the Superannuation Acts.