The amendments that have been circulated for the Report Stage were circulated rather with a view to the possibility that the recommendations that have been inserted would not have been agreed to. Number 1 was rather an alternative, and I am not sure that I would press Nos. 2 and 3, although to be consistent, the Principal Act ought to be amended in accordance with the recommendations that have now been agreed to. But as I think the chief work contemplated by the Principal Act has already been accomplished, it is perhaps hardly necessary to press these amendments to amend the Principal Act, and therefore I do not propose to move them.
Superannuation and Pensions Bill, 1929—Report and Final Stages.
Question proposed: "That the Bill be considered on Report."
I did not wish to bring in an amendment on the other stage, but I would like to ask the Minister a question upon a subject in which I am interested. It was raised on this Bill in the Dáil from all sides of the House, and the Minister gave an expression of opinion on it, hostile in the beginning, but favourable, I think, in the end. I would like him to say if he has since then considered the question of the Connaught Rangers. This is a subject that I suppose I know more about than anybody else for many reasons. I was not at all pleased by the statement the Minister made on one occasion when he said that the Connaught Rangers, in the action they took, were influenced by ulterior motives rather than motives of patriotism. I sent him some papers and asked him if he could manage to get employment for some of these men. I got a very civil letter back informing me that if I would supply him with the names of people he would see that they got employment. I supplied him with about twenty names, but I heard no more about it. As far as I know these men got no employment. I do not think that that is a satisfactory way to deal with this matter, and perhaps the Minister would say something now, having had time to consider it.
I stated in the Dáil that this was a matter which had been given a little consideration, at one time at any rate, to the extent of having a committee appointed to make a report. While that report found that the Connaught Rangers had carried out the particular actions they did in India on account of national and patriotic motives, it also was to the effect that they had not a claim for pensions. As I said in the Dáil the matter was laid aside, and it was not given any subsequent consideration. As a result of a number of speeches made in the Dáil I undertook to look into the matter. I have not yet had an opportunity of doing this.
Question put and agreed to.
Question:—"That the Bill be received for final consideration and do now pass"—put and agreed to.