§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a man named Stubbs, recently employed by the Board of Works as an overseer at the vice regal lodge, Phoenix Park, has been retired on pension; will he state on what grounds Stubbs was retired; whether his retirement was compulsory, and, if so, on what grounds; what was his salary; how long was he in the service of the Irish Board of Works; and how much has he received as pension or retiring allowance.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINPerhaps the hon. Member will allow me to answer this. Yes, Sir. Stubbs was compulsorily retired in the interests of the public service on 30th April last, 971 when he was nearly sixty-five years of age. His salary had been £130 per annum (besides emoluments equivalent to £28 17s. 2d. per annum) and his length of service forty-two-and-a-half years. He has been awarded a retiring allowance of £105 18s. 1d. the maximum for which he is qualified under the Superannuation Acts.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORWas Stubbs retired solely because he was sixty-five years of age?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI speak subject to correction, but I think he would have retired under any circumstances at sixty-five years of age. It was thought to be in the interest of the public service that he should be retired.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORBut was he compulsorily retired because of any fault in the discharge of his duty?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThat is a kind of question rather difficult to answer. I do not wish to cast any reflection on this man as to the discharge of his duties, but the hon. Member will see that at his age he was probably unable to continue to discharge them efficiently.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORI will put another Question down.