§ CAPTAIN VERNEY (Bucks, N., Buckingham)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he can now hold out hopes that the higher ranks of Her Majesty's Navy will be opened to the seamen of the Fleet in cases of exceptional merit, or for acts of conspicuous gallantry or daring, by the annual promotion of a limited number 1517 of Chief and other Warrant Officers, under Article 252, page 60, of the Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, which has remained a dead letter from its issue in 1853 to the present time?
§ CAPTAIN PRICE (Devonport)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the Admiralty will consider the advisability of allowing Chief Warrant Officers on retirement to take the rank of Lieutenant?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. HIBBERT) (Oldham)I can only say, in reply to my hon. and gallant Friend (Captain Verney), that the question is under the consideration of the Admiralty; and at the same time, perhaps, the hon. and gallant Member for Devonport (Captain Price) will allow me to give the same answer to his Question of a somewhat similar character.