§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the case of Louis Lewis, of 177, Elthorne Road, Upper Holloway, who six years ago, whilst employed as an auxiliary postman in the Holloway district, was knocked down by a postman riding a bicycle and, after nine weeks' illness, as a result of the accident, was obliged to retire from the service; if he is aware that Lewis, who had been a Post Office servant for twenty-three and a-half years, received as compensation only £12 from the Rowland Hill Fund and has found it difficult to earn a living since leaving the service; and will he, in recognition of the length of service and the circumstances which terminated it consider whether some compensation or allowance might properly be given either by way of a money grant or a small pension?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELNeither Mr. Lewis nor the postman who collided with him was on duty at the time of the accident referred to, so that no responsibility for the occurrence rests on the Post Office. As a result of the injuries sustained by Mr. Lewis it was, unfortunately, necessary to proceed with his retirement; and, as he had been employed on part-time duties only, he was not entitled to any award under the Superannuation Acts, nor was it practicable to make him a compassionate grant from public funds, as he was not considered to be in necessitous circumstances at the time of his retirement. I regret that I cannot see my way to assist him now, but the question of making him a further grant from the Rowland Hill Benevolent Fund can be considered next year.