§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that the pensions under the Old-Age Pensions Act pre to be paid weekly; and whether he will give instructions for Navy pensioners to receive their pensions also at such periods.
§ MR. MCKENNAI have received memorials from 216 board of guardians on this subject, and as I stated to the House yesterday, I have come to the conclusion, after giving the fullest consideration to the representations made, that the balance of advantage lies with the present system 457 of quarterly payments in advance. There are nearly 40,000 naval pensioners, and we believe that they form a highly-respectable class of the community, very few of whom are in the habit of receiving parochial relief. While willing to deal with individual cases on their merits, I am not prepared to deprive this large body of excellent citizens of an advantage which they at present enjoy and appreciate.