SUPPLY—REPORT. (Hansard, 20 July 1860)

§ ADMIRAL WALCOTT

I think my noble Friend the Secretary of the Admi- 2288 ralty has scarcely been treated in that spirit of generosity which is due to him, with respect to that scheme of naval retirement which he has submitted to the House, at the instance of the Board whom be represents. For my own part, I am fully aware that he holds earnestly at heart the welfare of his brother officers and the good of his profession; but I am bound to confess that I regard that scheme as arbitrary in its enactments and harsh in its provisions. My noble Friend frankly owns that had he been entrusted with a larger sum than £12,000 at his disposal, he could have produced a better scheme. Let me, then, advise him to withdraw it in its present form, and at a more favourable opportunity, when a more liberal sum is at his command, reproduce it in an amended shape, calculated to meet the exigencies of the service and to enlist the sympathy of the profession. Should it appear indispensable to the well-being of the Royal Navy, in the opinion of this House and the country, that officers, on attaining the age of sixty years, must be removed from the active list, painful though the sacrifice may be, it must be borne by them. The necessity, however, should be proved beyond dispute which calls for a step so extreme; and, if positively demanded, the blow to their natural feelings of sorrow should be softened by a considerate regard for their future welfare to the close of life. Such treatment they have deserved by the zeal, fidelity, and courage which they devoted to their country from earliest youth, in every hour and in every service when England required it. And if now for her good they are to be bidden to acquiesce in a compulsory removal and retirement, and to forego all opportunities henceforth of winning high place or emolument in their profession, it is only common justice which would award them a liberal acknowledgment of their past services. "True valour still a true respect should have." I would invite the attention of the Secretary to the Admiralty to consider the extremely hard position in which mates in the Royal Navy will be placed if they are debarred from counting a portion of the time which they passed in that rank. Many of them have held the appointment of acting lieutenant, and a considerable number, after having passed the examination for a lieutenant's commission, have remained without promotion for several years. I would, therefore, recommend that a portion of that time should be reckoned as a lieutenant's 2289 service, in order to entitle them to an increase of allowance on retirement. I must confess to some doubts as to the advantages which, it is presumed, will accrue from a Commission such as it is proposed to nominate; its efficacy could only be secured by the appointment of impartial and intelligent members qualified to form a just judgment. I have made these observations in the hope that I am assisting to create 2290 good precedents as well as to follow them, and urging an honourable and just cause; for I cannot fail to remember that, unless we treat the services of others in our own time fairly and tenderly, it is a debt that will be sure to be paid when we are gone.