Captain PEELasked the Postmaster-General whether he will take steps to allow old age pensions to be sent to pensioners who through illness or infirmity are prevented from applying for them at the post office in person?
§ Mr. NEWTONalso asked whether, in view of the inconvenience caused in rural districts to old age pensioners in inclement weather by having to attend at the post office to receive their pensions, and in view of the difficulty of procuring any satisfactory person to attend on their behalf to receive the pension, the right hon. Gentleman will take steps to have the pension money distributed through the postmen on their rounds directly into the hands of pensioners at their homes?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am not aware that old age pensioners often have difficulty in securing the services of suitable persons to act as their agents for obtaining their pensions from the post office. In a few exceptional cases, however, where it has been found that the circumstances were such as to cause real hardship I have arranged for the money to be sent by postmen. There are, however, serious objections to extending this arrangement beyond such special cases, I am willing to consider any cases of hardship that may be brought to my notice.