§ Supply considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ £995,647, Victuals.
§ MR. CARDWELLsaid, that as this Vote was one of those referred to in the Report of the Royal Commissioners on Manning the Navy, it might be desirable if the right hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Admiralty would state when it would be convenient for him to state the views of the Government generally on the recommendations contained in that Report.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONreplied, that the Report of that Commission consisted of two separate parts. The Board of Admiralty had taken into consideration all the recommendations relating to improvements in the condition of the sailor which were comprised in the first part of the Report. He was happy to say that the Board of Admiralty approved of and had adopted every one of those recommendations, which they had considered seriatim; and he believed they would have the effect of improving the condition of the sailor, and facilitating the manning of the navy. It was the wish of the Admiralty, if they received the sanction of the Treasury, to carry out every one of those recommendations. But with regard to the second part of the Report of the Commission, which related to certain arrangements proposed for obtaining sailors from the mercantile marine, the evidence had not yet been received, and before the Government could make up their minds on so important a plan they should see that evidence.
§ MR. W. S. LINDSAYremarked, that the first part of the Report of the Commission recommended an expenditure of not less than £100,000 of money. There might be some hon. Members who thought that it was not necessary to incur that increased expenditure, and who believed, as he did, that we should find no difficulty in manning our navy in time of peace. It would be advisable to take the sense of the House upon that Question.
§ SIR CHARLES NAPIERsaid, that the First Lord of the Admiralty seemed pleased that the ships lately commissioned had been manned so soon, but he must 85 remember, that they had been manned by drafts from other ships. He hoped he would issue an order at once to let the sailors know that they should have power to allot their money to their wives, and also that their pay should be received regularly.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, that the regulations would be promulgated as soon as all the details were settled.
§ MR. CARDWELLexpressed himself satisfied with the explanation given by the right hon. Baronet. The Commissioners recommended that there should be an increased allowance for provisions to the extent of £42,000, and he wished to know whether the present Vote would be increased by that amount.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONreplied, that the Board of Admiralty had sanctioned that recommendation, but it was impossible to carry it into effect without a detailed arrangement, which was being prepared at present.
§ MR. CARDWELLsupposed, then, there would be a supplemental Vote.
§ MR. BERNAL OSBORNEwished to know when the Reports of the three Committees promised by the Government would be laid upon the table?
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he had not yet received the Report of the Committee on the dockyards. The others had been received, but had not yet been submitted to his Colleagues; but after that they should immediately be laid before the House.
§ Vote agreed to.
§ House resumed.
§ Resolution to be reported on Monday next.