§ 59. Mr. J. JONESasked the hon. and gallant Member for the Tonbridge Division, as representing the Charity 1271 Commissioners, on what grounds the Charity Commissioners allowed the Bath municipal trustees to increase by £100 the stipend of the master of St. John's Hospital, Bath, thereby depriving several infirm poor persons of the ages of 80 and upward of the benefit of the charity to which they are entitled?
§ Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER-CLAY (Charity Commissioner)The grounds for authorising an increase of not more than £100 in the stipend of the master were the increase in the cost of living, the fact that since the amount of his stipend was last fixed the income of the charity had increased from £3,257 to over £12,000 per annum, and the duties undertaken by the master in connection with the out-pensioners of whom there are now nearly 300. The increase was authorised by a scheme which was published in Bath before it was sealed. No objections were received.
§ Mr. JONESSeeing that the Somersetshire miners are receiving 50 per cent. below their pre-War wages, why should this clergyman receive an extra salary in addition to what he was getting before the War, in view of the fact that he is already occupying two other public positions with salary attached?
§ Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER-CLAYI was not aware of what is stated in the last part of the question. This gentleman has no house available for him and has to find his own accommodation. He does a great deal of good work among 300 out-patients who attend at the weekly distribution of the money given.
§ Mr. JONESI do not want to contradict the hon. and gallant Member, but I should like to know on what ground the payment is justified? The cost of living has gone up for everyone and the pensioners have had no advance in consequence of the increase in the cost of living.