Corcoran's and Higgins' conduct has been uniformly good. Therefore, in their case, there should be no reduction, and they should get their full Pension. As regards the others, he may not commit himself, but I am certain that if he were compelled to report upon them, he could not say 'uniformly good!' Their conduct had not been.
The reduction in the case of those whose characters are not certified 'uniformly good' should be very considerable - 25%, 33%, or even more.
We have still to consider the case of Sergeant Foord, and of Macaulay, Graham, and Me Iver.
XCR(10)
Foord's case is a difficult one to deal with. On the one hand, he is not entitled to Pension, having ten months to serve to complete 15 years of service, and if he is Pensioned at all, it will have to be under the above-quoted Section.
On the other hand, if he gets nothing, he will be harshly treated as compared with Phelps, who have served as long as, or less long than, he, and Hall. It is eminently desirable to get rid of him, and if he is not dismissed or Pensioned, he need not go for ten months. As a matter of expediency, I should give him a Pension, but on the same terms as the others on Pensions: if his conduct is not certified 'uniformly good', it must be reduced.
With regard to Macaulay, Graham, and Me Iver, as their terms are up and they have established no claim to Pension, we can get rid of them and should concur in the course proposed.
These men fare very badly as compared with the others, but it is not a case in which we should stretch a point in their favour, except where it is in accordance with the Ordinance.
Moreover, if he is granted a Pension, leaving the...
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