§ Mr. GINNELLasked whether the Chief Secretary is aware that the name of Peter Bennett, baptised at Clonmellon in 1837, and ever since a resident at Delvin, has not been found in any Census Return; if he will state the nature of the evidence upon which the Local Government Board have disallowed, on the ground of age, 283 the pension of five shillings a week granted by the local pension committee in this case; whether Bennett or the local committee will be allowed to examine and answer that evidence; and, if not, whether the pension will be allowed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that Peter Bennett could not be traced in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851. He put forward in support of his claim a statement of his belief that he was born in 1837, and baptised by a certain curate, who, according to the recollection of some old people in the locality, left Clonmellon over 70 years ago. The pension officer's appeal was upheld by the Local Government Board for lack of proof that the claimant had attained the statutory age, and not because evidence put forward on Bennett's behalf was refuted by other evidence brought before the Board.