§ 15. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will now give the House information regarding the case of Alfred Oscar Smith, No. 11/N/23,409; whether the man received a foot injury on His Majesty's Ship "Neptune" in 1917; whether, owing to that injury, he received treatment in the naval hospital, Portsmouth, for a period of about two months; and from what disability his examination at Roehampton this year has revealed that he is now suffering?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)This man sustained an injury to the right foot in His Majesty's Ship "Redoubtable" on the 9th April, 1918, for which he subsequently received treatment at Portsmouth and elsewhere. The recent examination at Roehampton revealed some deformity of a bone of the foot with arthritic changes.
§ Captain STRICKLANDIs it not a fact that the examination reveals a diseased bone arising directly from this accident on the boat?
§ Major TRYONThe position is that this man did not claim for 16 years after the receipt of the injury, and that we 1557 are making inquiries. I cannot make any promise, but, as a result of those inquiries, he may receive compensation.
§ Captain STRICKLANDIs it not the fact that the department have sent to this man and asked him to give information as to the doctors under whom he has been and the employers for whom he has worked during the whole of that time?
§ Major TRYONCertainly; surely it is not unreasonable to make inquiries, when a man has not claimed for 16 years, and to ask him to give full information to the department before we make a payment out of public funds.