§ SIR JOHN BENN (Devonport)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Mrs. E. Pitt, who has been working in the Royal William Victualling Yard, Devonport, 965 for seventeen and a half years was discharged last month at a few days notice without a gratuity; and whether, in view of the fact that she was promised such consideration at the end of her service, he will cause inquiries to be made in her case, so that the usual allowance may be granted.
(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) Mrs. Pitts, hired bedmaker, was, after three weeks notice, discharged on the 31st ultimo, having been allowed to remain in the service for some time after reaching the usual age. It is not possible to award her a service gratuity because, although her original entry was in April, 1889, her total service was less than fifteen years, which under the Superannuation Acts, is the minimum period necessary to qualify a hired person, discharged on account of age, for an award. Mrs. Pitts' actual service amounted to fourteen years twenty-eight days; but, in view of the broken and intermittent character, the rules do not permit of more than eleven years 301 days being reckoned for the purpose of a gratuity. In regard to the alleged promise, Mrs. Pitts was merely informed that she would receive such treatment on discharge as her services entitled her to under the regulations. The question of awarding Mrs. Pitts a small grant from the Civil Compassionate Fund will be considered.