PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885/
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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was brought within the lowest class of the higher branch of the office, and he was thus enabled to describe himself as "a graduate of Trinity College, "Dublin, nearly 70 years of age, and a junior (!!!) " clerk in the Colonial Office." It would have been better if he had continued to be described as "library assistant.”
On Lord Carnarvon succeeding to office, Mr. Woods' case was brought under his consideration,
and on the 27th of June 1874 he recommended to Treasury. the Treasury that Mr. Woods should retire upon a 7169/71. pension computed upon the maximum salary (000Z.)
to which he could attain, his actual salary being then 4601.
The Treasury replied (6th July 1874) that to _Treasury. calculate Mr. Woods' pension upon a larger amount 7718/74. of salary than he was actually receiving would be
illegal.
W.
This decision was communicated to Mr. Woods, and his rejoinder (in which he announced that he contemplated bringing his case before some public 7761/74. tribunal, but suggested arbitration as preferable) was sent to the Treasury in a letter in which it was stated that "Lord Carnarvon would have felt much "satisfaction if their Lordships had been able to obviate any such inconvenient prolongation of this discussion by placing Mr. Woods in the "status which he had expected to occupy, or by "some other settlement of the case.
"
The Treasury did not reply to this letter, and in consequence of two further communications from Mr. Woods, Lord Carnarvon caused him to be in- formed (15th October 1874) that "as the argu- "ments which would appear to bave most weight " in support of the proposal for an improvement of your position have been clearly and repeatedly "stated to the Treasury, and as that Department "has on several occasions considered your case, "his Lordship does not think he can with any
propriety press his opinion further."
#
W.
11632/74.
H. L.
Having thus failed to obtain by the ordinary official procedure the position and salary which he 6910/77. claimed, Mr. Woods next (June 1877) induced Lord O'Hagan to bring his case before the House of Lords and to move for the correspondence on the subject.
H. L
7256
A report of the debate in which Lord Kimberley took part and joined with Lord Carnarvon in cen- suring Mr. Woods' conduct in publishing certain June 14/77. official documents of which he had become possessed will be found with H.L./7256/77.
The motion ended in the production of papers heing agreed to (7256/77), but the minutes on W/7901/79 show that the papers have never been presented and published.
Mr. Woods was very much aggrieved by the censure passed on him by Lord Carnarvon in the House of Lords, and having at last expressed his regret at having caused the official documents re- ferred to to be printed and circulated without having authority to do so, Lord Carnarvon in- formed him that his remarks (8rd July 1877) had not been intended to convey the impression that
W.
7285/77. 7400/77.
W. 7576/77.
W.
1880/78.
W.
1380/78.
Treasury.
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Mr. Woods had improperly obtained possession of the documents. Upon the termination of this corre- spondence it was intended that Lord Carnarvon should endeavour to induce the Treasury privately to agree to Mr. Woods' salary being raised to 600%., and to his being retired on a pension calculated on that amount (W/7575/77). Before, however, any action was taken Lord Carnarvon resigned.
On Str M. Hicks Beach becoming Secretary of State, Mr. Woods' case was brought to his notice, and on the 20th of December 1878 he wrote to the Treasury, recommending that the case should be treated as one of abolition of office, and that "such "an additional number of years should be added "to Mr. Woods' actual service as would enable an adequate pension to be assigned to him." Mr. Woods at this time again proposed arbitration, and suggested Lord Cairns or Lord Selborne as arbi- trator.
C
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On the 29th of May 1879 the Treasury replied, and, after reviewing the circumstances of Mr. Woods' case, agreed to grant him a pension calcu- lated on his actual service in the Treasury and 3668/79. Colonial Office, with an addition of 10 years for abolition, and at the same time to allow the pension which had been granted for services in Ireland to revive. At the same time it was stated that, how- ever long Mr. Woods might remain in the public service, no greater pension would be awarded to him, and that this special rate of pension was con- tingent on his retiring within three months. Mr. Woods appealed against this decision on the ground that his pension ought to have been computed under a more favourable Act of Parliament, but the 10961/79. Treasury refused to alter their decision.
W.
9566/79.
Treasury
w.
On the 16th of August 1879 Sir M. Hicks Beach reminded Mr. Woods that his special rate of pen- sion was only open for acceptance up to the 29th 11808/79. of that month, but that he would not object to his retaining his post until the end of the and
year, Mr. Woods, on the 22nd August 1879, accepted 18486/79. the pension awarded him, but under protest.
W.
W.
On the 10th of September 1879 Mr. Woods re- newed his proceedings by requesting that certain 14768/79. letters which the Secretary of State had refused to keep on the Register, and which had been with- drawn, might again be placed on record, as her intended to carry his case before a legal tribunal.
Sir M. Hicks Beach replied (1st October 1879) that, if he insisted, the letters would be replaced on record, but in that event he would be unable to sign Mr. Woods' certificate for pension, as the letters were not of a character which ought to have been addressed by an official in the public service to the head of his department.
W.
16687/79.
On the 2nd October 1879 Mr. Woods replied by reiterating his request that the letters might be replaced on record, and he expressed his confidence that after 47 years' service the statement required by the Superannuation Act that he had discharged his duties with diligence and fidelity to the satis- "faction of the head officers of his several depart- ments could not be withheld." Mr. Woods' pension papers were thereupon sent into the Trea-