HAPPY PENSIONERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

HAPPY PENSIONERS.

HEALTHY MAURITIUS. INEFFICIENCY REWARDS. ROMANCE OF A BLUE "BOOK. Tlie remote British 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 to reach this country, says a correspondent of the Observer, London, on© cannot avoid the conclusion that its healthiness deserves to he better known. In the list of Government pensioners is found, for instance, the name of Abdul Syed Tyrnoor, aged 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 lias been drawing a pension 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 lie lias been drawing a pension of 414 rupees a year. In Seychelles, too, a first clerk of the Legal Department was retired in 1898, 'Cause: Lunacy." Since then he has been drawing a pension. Long List of Pensioners. The writer says:—To return to Mauritius, I see that the fust four Indians on one page of the list were a stoker, who retired in 1885, from ill-health, and has been drawing an annual pension ever since; aged 94. A prison warder, who retired in 1896, from old age, and has been drawing an annual pension ever since; aged 95. A police constable, who retired in 1889, from bodily infirmity, and has been drawing an annual pension ever since; aged 86. A Port Department lascar, who retired in 1893, from bodily infirmity, arid has been drawing a pension ever since; aged 85. In tlio year 1832 the master of a Government steamer in the Port Department retired owing to "abolition of office." Ever since 1882 lie has been drawing an annual pension. Or, take some further instances: An Indian policeman, retired from bodily infirmity, in 1885; aged 82. An Indian customs boatman, retired in 1893, for ill-health; nged'9l. An Indian lascar, retired in 1892, for "unfitness for further service"; aged 82. An Indian serang, Port Department, retired in 1894, for old age; aged 92. An Indian police corporal, retired in 1887, for bodily infirmity; aged 80. Additions to the Record. Other cases are an English stationmaster, retired in 1894, from a 2100 rupees a year job, for old age, has been drawing 1190 rupees a year pension ever since; aged 95. An Indian lascar, Port Department, retired in 1888, for "unfitness for further service"; aged 88. An Indian stoker, retired in 1893, for bodily infirmity; aged 87. An Indian assistant lighthouse-keeper, retired in 1889, for "unfitness for further service"; aged 90. A clerk, retired in 1884, for ill-health; aged 83. An English prison warder, retired in 1888, for "abolition of office"; aged 72. The writer adds:—"Mauritius may be hot, damp, and relaxing—but could Torquay or Bournemouth 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 40 or 50 years' pay in consideration of his inefficiency, ill-health or old age?"