§ MR. HANBURY-TRACYasked the First Lord of Admiralty, If he is now prepared to state what alterations he proposes to make in the system under which Her Majesty's ships are navigated?
§ MR. RAIKESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether, having regard to his recent declaration respecting the merits and value of the navigating officers of Her Majesty's Navy, he is prepared to take into consideration their claims to a more defined position as to 247 command, to a greater freedom in carrying out their responsible and important duties, as well as to a substantive recognition of their rank on board ship?
§ MR. GOSCHEN, in reply, said, he was not prepared at the present moment to state what alterations the Admiralty proposed to make in the system under which Her Majesty's ships were navigated. In reply to the hon. Member opposite (Mr. Raikes), he would say that he was most unwilling to raise hopes in any case which it might not be in his power to fulfil. Of course, he was always ready to take into consideration the grievances of any class of officers in the service; but he was bound to state that there was no plan under the consideration of the Admiralty for dealing with the future of the navigating officers, except that an Order in Council had been prepared for the retirement of navigating sub-lieutenants.