§ CAPTAIN PRICEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether there are any instructions in force at the dockyards empowering the authorities to retain hired men after the age of sixty if found fit for service; in whom is this discretionary power vested; and, has it been exercised since the issue of the last Dockyard Instructions?
§ SIR THOMAS BRASSEYBy Dockyard instruction all hired men are to be discharged at 60 years of age. There have been a few special cases of retention 109 on the strong recommendation of the Superintendent, and with the approval of the Controller and the Civil Lord. A more elastic system has been proposed, and is under consideration.