§ *MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he will state what were the conditions of service which precluded payment of a gratuity to Miss Blanc, late assistant Portarlington Post Office, in view of the fact that this official had twenty-eight years service, gave her whole time to her duties, and that the remuneration paid her came out of moneys voted by Parliament.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMiss Blanc was paid out of an allowance made to the Postmaster of Portarlington, and was not in the service of the Department. Persons employed in this capacity are not entitled to a gratuity on retirement, and I have no power whatever to grant either a pension or a gratuity. That rests with the Treasury, and in such a case as this 1157 they also have no power to grant one or the other.
§ *MR. DELANYOn what authority does the right hon. Gentleman make the statement that Miss Blanc was retired "because no longer capable of discharging her duties efficiently?"
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member cannot argue the matter.