HAPPY PENSIONERS OF MAURITIUS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3439, 5 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

HAPPY PENSIONERS OF MAURITIUS

INEFFICIENCY REWARDS

ROMANCE OF A BLUE BOOK. (From a Correspondent.) Our remote Indian Ocean island colony, Mauritius, is not famed as one of the world's health resorts; and yet, after carefully perusing the nooks and corners of its latest Blue Book, one cannot avoid the conclusion that its healthiness deserves to be better known. In the list of Government pensioners is found, for instance, the name of Abdul Syed Tymoor, a'ged 107, who retired in 1887, owing to 'old age and infirmity." A fourth-class clerk in the Poor Law Department, who was drawing 1800 rupees a year, was retired in 1913. " Cause: Inefficiency." Since then he has been drawing a oension of 1020 rupees a year. In the neighbouring island colony of Seychelles a man who was dispenser and chief clerk of Victoria Hospital, and drawing 1080 rupees a year, at the age of 35, was retired In 1921. " Cause: Inefficiency." Since then he has been drawing a pension of 414 rupees a year. In Seychelles, too a irst «lerk of the. Legal Department* wa7 retired in 1928. "Cause: Lunaey." Since then he has been drawing a pension. To return to Mauritius it is seen that the first four Indians Ei. One page of the list were: A stoker, who retired in 1885, from ill-health, and ' has been drawing an annual pension ever since. Age, 94. A prison warder, who retired in 1896, from old age, and has been drawing an annual pension ever since. Age, 95. A police constable, who retired in 1889, from bodily infirmity, and has been drawing an annual pension ever since. Age, 86. A Port Department lascar, who retired in 1893, from bodily infirmity, has been drawing a pension ever since. Age, 85. In the year 1882 the master of a Government steamer in the Port Department retired owing to " abolition of ofl&Qe." Ever since 1882 he has been drawing an annual pension. Or, take some further instances: An Indian policeman, retired from bodily infirmity in 1885. Age, 82. An Indian customs boatman, retired in 1893, for ill-health. Age, 91. An Indian lascar, retired in 1892, for " unfitness for further service." Age, 82. An Indian serang, Port Department, retired in 1894, from a 2100 rupees a. year job, for old age, has been drawing a 1190 rupees a year pension ever since. Age, 95. An Indian lascar, Port Department, retired in 1888, for "unfitness for further service." Age, 88. An Indian stoker, retired in 1889, for " unfitness for further service." age, 90. A clerk, retired in 1884, for ill-health. Age, 83. An English prison warder, retired in 1888, for "abolition of office." Age, 72.

Mauritius may be hot, damp, and relaxing:—but could our very best resorts show a better record, from the point of view of a young man who, feels like entering the Civil Service for a few fleeting years, before drawing forty or fifty vears' pay in consideration of his inefficiency, ill-health, or old age ?