§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ascertain why the Imperial Pensions Office at Sydney charges 3½ per cent. on pensions on which only 1 per cent. is charged in Ireland?
§ Mr HOBHOUSEI am not aware that any commission is charged on Imperial pensions drawn in the United Kingdom. In New South Wales and in other Colonies where no Imperial pay officer is stationed Imperial pensions are paid through the Colonial Treasurers; in these cases a commission 3 per cent. is charged to compensate the Colonial Governments for the trouble and expense to which they are put994W in undertaking this service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.