CO129-541-9 Alexander Black- approval for reduced gratuity 4-10-1932 - 19-12-1932 — Page 4

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*PF. not available.

Mr. Tomlinson asked whether thereis any

precedent for limiting the reduction for inefficiency

to 25% in a case where, owing to the shortness of

his service, the officer is qualified for a gratuity

only. No precedent can be traced but it is, I think,

relevant that, following the Treasury practice recorded in 60243/29, we now aim at limiting to 20%

the reduction from the gratuity of an officer retired after short service on grounds of ill health cau sed, or partially caused, by intemperance.

One case in point is that of Mr.MacLardie (file 91718/31/32) who was invalided from the

Service after interdiction from duty in proceedings

under Colonial Regulations. His gratuity was

reduced by 10%.

(file 21845 W. A.) whose retirement was due to

retrenchment, but in who se case the Governor of

Sierra Leone wished to reduce the gratuity by 25%

because of a suspicion of intemperance.

Another is that of Mr. Bennett

reduction approved was 5%.

The

Mr. MacLardie was 40 and Mr. Bennett was

49 at the time of retirement, but it does not appear that in either case the man's age was taken into

account in reaching a decision. Mr. MacLardie had

4 years' service and Mr. Bennett had 7 as against

6 years in the present case. But I doubt whether

the fact that an officer has only short service

should influence the question of the reduction to be made for inefficiency. That fact is fully taken

77 into account in the award to him of a gratuity

instead of pension, and to use it as an argument in favour of a different scale of reduction in gratuity

cases seems unfair to the officer of short service.

1.14.32

P.T.O.