§ 39. Mr. LEEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that Mr. Charles Nichols, certificated and uncertificated teacher for upwards of 41 years, thought it in the interests of the scholars of the Unstone School, Derbyshire, that he should retire because his health had been such for 12 months that it was impossible to do his duty to them; that he died on 6th October, 1925, six days after leaving service and seven weeks short of 60 years of age; that death gratuity had been refused to his widow, and that the amended Superannuation Act of 1926 gives gratuity if death takes place within a year of retirement; and whether, under the exceptional circumstances, he is prepared to deal with this case as if it was under the Act of 1926 or to make some special grant in view of the long service of Mr. Nichols?
§ Lord E. PERCYI am aware of the facts of this case, but fear I am unable to deal with it under the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, which does not come into operation until 1st April next; nor have I any power to make a special grant in cases where, as in this, the conditions for the award of a death gratuity under the School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1918, are not satisfied.