28 NOVEMBER 1952, Page 20

Army Pensions

recently received the annual report of a tea company, in which I hold a few shares. Although the profit for the year and the dividend are reduced, it is proposed to make a substantial increase in the pensions of those of the staff in the East, who retired before the last war—an act of simple ' justice, to which there was, naturally, no opposition. Those who, like myself, have served the State, which should surely be a model employer, are less fortunate. My pension as an army officer, was assessed in 1926 at the rate fixed in 1920, and I have had no increase, although it was then stated that it should depend on the cost of living, which has risen nearly 200 per cent. A few days ago, I received a notice that, if I could sign what amounts to a plea of destitution, my retired pay would be raised by the munificent sum of £20 a year !

I consider that I am entitled to an increase in my retired pay, and would not, in any case, sign such a declaration, nor do I think that the fundamental sense of justice of the British public would tolerate such an offer, if they were aware of it.—Yours faithfully,

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL.