MINUTES.
MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.
C
i 25981
The Under Secretary pState
14 Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,
25 May, 1921,
sir,
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In the Autumn of last year I addressed a Memorandum to the Govern- 5 of Hong Kong on the subject of the increases of pension which had a granted to the retired civil servants of the Colony, pointing out Low completely the situation in England resulting from the high cost of iving, had been misunderstood, and the injustice of making the generosi- of one Colony in this matter dependent on the generosity of another, pointed out that the rule curtailing the benefits of the grant to those Kaze pensions from all sources were £1000 and over was unjust in priči- 12, and involved hardship in the method of applying it.
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You were good enough to forward the Memorandum to Hong Kong. The most lementary courtesy demanded an answer; but, though 6 months has elapsed,
have received none.
I now beg to point out the peculiar hardship in my own case owing to art of my pension being paid in the fluctuating currency of Mauritius,
Since January this year the rupee has been steadily falling, and at the rates current during these last months my pension from alb sources has allen to less than £75 per month. The annual amount I receive is about 2000, and therefore I am entitled to the benefit of the Hong Kong scheme relief. But as there is a remote possibility that at some time during the year the value of the rupee may rise, the benefit to which I em enti-
od is apparently to be postponed to the end of the year. The object ith which the grant mew wis made is thus completely frustrated, and I am prived of roughly £10 a month.
In my Memorandum I pointed out that the only fair way in which the home could be worked where part of the pension was paid by a silver clony, was by treating the allowance as
according to the exchange. But no notice has been taken of the sugges- a monthly grant, which would va-
tion.
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arrears now due to me are approximately £50, and I sɛggert that,if monthly method is not adopted, that the only equitable way of dealing ith the matter is to make a proportionate allowence every month, a final justment being made at the end of the year. You will of course remem- Fr that a course somewhat similar to this was at first adopted in the
of the relief granted by Mauritius. This, I submit, is the only way which the intention of the grent, to enable the pensioner to meet the reased cost of living, can be carried out; and that it is contrary to he spirit of the relief to postpone payment till a lump sum has accrued
at the end of the year.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Higgoth