§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that James Gardiner, of Drumlone, Newtownbutler, county Fermanagh, a small farmer, applied in the month of September last for an old 720 age pension; that the pension officer, after inspecting his farm, reported to the pension committee that he was entitled to 2s. a week pension; that the committee approved of that report, and allowed a pension at that rate; that the claimant appealed on the grounds that he was entitled to a higher pension; and that the Local Government Board decided that the yearly value of his farm exceeded £31 10s., and that he was not entitled to any pension, and disqualified him; and whether he will state on what grounds the Board came to that decision, and whether, before arriving at it, the Board had an inspection and valuation made of Gardiner's farm, stock, and crop?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe facts generally are as stated in the question. The decision of the Local Government Board was arrived at from a consideration of the stock and crops on the farm. No inspection was made on behalf of the Board, as none appeared necessary. The pension officer, in reporting that the claimant was entitled to 2s. a week may have treated this as a case of maintenance in view of the fact that claimant assigned his farm to his son in December, 1911; but as this son was unmarried the Board regarded the assignment as coming within the terms of Section 4, Sub-section (3), of the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908.