LORD BIRKENHEAD.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 17

LORD BIRKENHEAD.

RELINQUISHING HIS PENSION.

(nov ou» ow* coßßXspoin>m*T.) LONDON, May 23. Lord Birkenhead, speaking at Banbury on Saturday night, was criticising the Labour Party, and said: "I am not going to run the coal mines." A voice: You don't want to, with £SOOO a year pension. Lord Birkenhead: Why should not I have a pension? If I gave up £30,000 a year in order to assume public office, why shou'd not I be entitled to a pension? I will at this moment say lam the only one of those who have received a pension who in effect does not intend indefinitely to receive it. I am the only one I know in the British Empire who is giving up in threa months a pension of £SOOO a year. In an interview. Lord Birkenhead, as to his speech, said. "I said exactly what I meant. Beyond that I cannot discuss the matter." When Lord Birkenhead resigned October 16th last from the office of Secretary for India, the question of his pension rights as an ex-Lord Chancellor was raised in the House of Commons. Sir Thomas Inskip, Attorney-General, replied: "Lord Birkenhead has authorised me to say that in the course _of time he will be undertaking new duties, and will receive in connrxion with them emoluments which will be substantial. He proposes to receive the pension to which he is entitled during the period or transition from his old duties to his new duties, and he anticipates that that period will not be prolonged." Business Appointments. Referring to "the period of transition" in a letter. Lord Birkenhead wrote: "That it will not be undnly protracted is rendered probable by the fact which I only recall hr-cause it is so long ago, that during each year of ®7 » aw office I voluntarily returned many ands of pounds of my income to e In the same letter he wrote: "I do not choose at a moment of national mi- " cial stringency to accept a pension fro the State so iong as I am able to e3rn my living in other wave." Lord Birkenhead's appointments r ceived since he resigned Chairm , Greater London and Counties Trns . j director Imperial Chemical Induitn > Tate and Lyle, sugar refiners; and hannesbnrg Consolidated Investment