PESSIMISM AND SUICIDE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15841, 5 June 1922, Page 9

PESSIMISM AND SUICIDE.

REFUSED £SoO A YEAR. MAN WHO FOUGHT PROFITEERS. LONDON, April 21.—At the inquest on Clifford Ernest Pcnney, a man who had done brilliant work in Hie Food Department of tho Board of Trade during the war, a letter was read in which the deceased stated: "For months I have walked the streets trying to got work which would havo been enough to take me liome to New Zealand to my mother."

It was a pathetic story of* suicide, as deceased was not in financial difficulties at all, but suffering from neurasthenia.

Ponney, who was aged -1-, was found dead in bed with a tube connected with a, gas jet in his mouth, in an apartment bouse at Brighton. Ho is said to have been the terror of profiteers and conducted nearly 50,000 prosecutions on behalf of the Ministry of Food. In .190:5 he organised the judicial system of North Shun, which was then in a most disorderly state. He joined the R.A.S.O. soon after the outbreak of war and attained the rank of captain before he was invalided owing to physical breakdown. When the Ministry of Food came into existence he was appointed organiser with direct authority under the Minister. In this position he rapidly rose to prominence by reason of his extraordinary genius for organisation. He was responsible for the working of the rationing system throughout the country.

Pcnricy loft the following letter addressed to liis landlady: mo I am only like thousands of other poor unfortunate men who served their country—neglected, out of work, and penniless. My last few shillings will pay your bill. I intended to do this the last time I came down, but I had a letter promising work which never came off. I have nothing in the world but what T stand up in. Pray forgive me for the trouble I have given." ]\lr. Davies said he had boon sent to express the high appreciation of the Hoard of Trade and his colleagues there of Mr. Pcnney's official services. Mr. Penney was discharged from the army in April, 1917. One of the reasons for his discharge was stated as neurasthenia. In January, 191 S, he applied to the Food Department of the board to be given more work to do. He was given an appointment in which he did admirable, work, and when his work was transferred to the Ministry of Food he was transferred with it. He was,considered a most, valuable servant, and, although the appointment was only temporary, many attempts were made to transfer him to a permanent one. IXo was finally offered a permanent position at £BSO a year with a pension. He did not take that because he thought he could do better. He knew he might lose his job at. any time, and I think that weighed heavily on his mind, added Mr. Davies. His appointment, really ended in December last, and he had a severe attack of ilifluonza and pneumonia early in the year.

In February he wrote a letter to Mr. Collcr, who was head of his department, the general tone of which was that he had a grievance on account of what he considered his forced resignation. Friends who had taken an interest in him had endeavored to get an appointment for him in a commercial house at £750 a year. This lie twice refused. He had not suffered from financial difficulties, and there was no reason why he should have taken such a .pessimistic outlook ot life. The Coroner: The statement that lie was penniless was without foundation. I have received a letter from his solicitor, in which he says Mr. Penney was possessed of a considerable sum ot money. It was a matter for regret that a man who had done such good services for his country should come to such a sad end. Ho returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."*