§ MR. LIDDELLsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Board of Trade, When the amount due to Shipping Masters on account of their services rendered to the "Royal Naval Reserve" during the past year will be paid; and upon what principle the said payments are made?
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, in reply, that the Shipping Master in Ports where there was a Local Marine Board, and the 1022 Collector of Customs in other Ports were Registrars of the Royal Naval Reserve. For this special service they were paid according to the work done. The amount of this work was represented by marks bearing a money value. For instance—the application for enrolment as a Volunteer, which must be transmitted to the Registrar General of Seamen, was reckoned at ten marks; the payment of a retainer at four marks; the delivery of a certificate, which involved still less trouble, at two marks; and so on. At the end of the year a Return was made by each Registrar showing the amount of work done. The number of marks was then calculated, and payment made accordingly. If there was any small surplus in the sum voted for this purpose in the Navy Estimates it was distributed as an extra gratuity among the Registrars who had exhibited most zeal and accuracy. These payments were made in Mayor June, according to the time at which the accounts could be made up. Last year gave much extra trouble, as it was the end of the first term of five years for which the Royal Naval Reserve Volunteers were enrolled, but he did not anticipate that there would be much delay in consequence.
§ MR. LIDDELLsaid, he wished for some further information as to the amount of extra compensation, if this could be given.
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, that application had been made to the Treasury for an additional grant of £2,000, but that no definite reply had yet been received.