§ Mr. JOHN MURPHYasked the Chief Secretary why the Local Government Board disallowed the pension of Mr. Maurice Downey, of Brosna, Castleisland, county Kerry, whose name could not be traced in the Census Returns; and if the Board will state what further proof of age they require to satisfy them in this case?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pension officer appealed against the allowance of a pension in this case on the ground that no evidence of age had been produced, and the only evidence furnished to the Local Government Board by the claimant consisted of statements by three old persons to the effect that they considered him to be over VO years of age. As no trace of him could be found in the Census Returns the Board736W were unable to accept these opinions as conclusive evidence that he had attained the statutory age, and they accordingly allowed the appeal. The onus of proving that the age of 70 years has been attained rests upon a claimant. The Board would be satisfied with a certificate of baptism, an extract from the Census Returns, or any information which the claimant could produce to warrant them in coming to the conclusion that he fulfilled the statutory condition.