Mr. Balfour, while applauding the compassionate torte of Mr. Lloyd
George's peroration, pronounced his speech unsatisfactory. The Bill was for persons over seventy, and did nothing to relieve the sufferings and privations endured by many others who had no refuge but the infirmary or work- house, and were thus disinalified for pensions. Mr. Balfour dwelt on the demoralising effect of permitting fraudulent clabris to be made, and regretted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should have seemed to palliate what was going on in Ireland. Mr. Birrell deprecated this censure, and entered a caveat against the formation of a hasty judgment before the result of the inquiries watt Made known. Before the close of the debate, Mr. Lloyd George informed the Irish Members that no one now in receipt of a pension could be deprived of it without inquiry by the Revision Committee, and, if neces- sary, an appeal to the Local Government. Board. Mr. Fell's amendment having been withdrawn, the vote for the Supple- mentary Estimate, £910,000, was agreed to.
Previous page
