§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland upon what grounds the Local Government Board (Ireland) have decided that James Farrell, of Spencer Street, Castlebar, is not entitled to an old age pension; is he aware that no record of Farrell's age can be found in the Census returns or parish registers of his native place, but that according to his Army papers he was seventy years old in 1910; can he state why the Local Government Board have impounded Farrell's Army papers, and will he direct that these documents shall be returned to Farrell forthwith?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe only evidence put forward by the claimant to show that he fulfilled the statutory condition as to age were the Army papers referred to, but the Local Government Board asked him for a baptismal certificate, which they understood could be obtained from the parish records. Farrell made no effort to obtain a certificate, choosing to rely solely upon the record of his statement to the Army authorities regarding his age made when he enlisted in 1859, which statement was presumably accepted without verification. He also mentioned two different places for his birth, and as he could not be traced in the Census Returns, and as the pension officer reported that he did not appear to be seventy years of age, the Board were not satisfied that he had attained the statutory age, and disallowed his claims. In the event of a fresh claim coming before the Board on appeal, further investigation will be made into the case. In the meantime his papers have been returned.