§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)To ask the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the case of William Gilchriest, who, after a service of thirty-five years as letter-carrier in Granard, has had his services discontinued, and is now left practically destitute in his old age, the small grant recently made to him being almost useless for its purpose; and will he reconsider his case with a view to giving this man a small pension.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) As I have already informed the hon. Member 922 by letter, Gilchriest is not eligible for any award under the Superannuation Acts, which make no provision for those who, like Gilchriest, give only a part of their time to the service of the State. The gratuity which he has received is the utmost that can be awarded to him from official funds; but it is possible the Rowland Hill Benevolent Fund may be able to give him some assistance, and I will cause his case to be brought to the notice of the Committee