§ MR. HODGE (Lancashire, Gorton)To ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the late sub-postmistress of Gorton served the Post Office in that capacity for a period of twenty-five years; and that, in view of the fact that she was only on the establishment nine-years and six months, no pension was given her; whether it is the rule in some-instances that unestablished services may count towards pension; and whether, in view of the good work performed for so many years and the fact that the post mistress was compulsorily retired for reasons of ill-health, he will consider sympathetically the merits of this claim for a pension.
§ (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton): The late sub-postmistress of Gorton did not become an established officer of the Post Office until 1897, when she gave up her private business and devoted her whole time to the Post Office work. Unestablished full-time service may in some cases be counted for pension, but part-time service, such as that of a sub-postmistress carrying on a private 1333 business, is invariably excluded. I am sorry it is not practicable to grant the sub-postmistress a pension.