§ MR. GODDARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the attention of the Admiralty authorities has been drawn to the apparent injustice of the new system of naval examinations; and, whether they would be willing to revise the regulations with respect to acting sub-lieutenants, who, after having served for six years and upwards at sea and obtained first-class certificates in seamanship and gunnery, besides testimonials of high character and practical efficiency from their respective commanders, are yet nevertheless compelled to abandon their profession, should they afterwards fail to attain the prescribed standard of theoretical knowledge?
§ MR. HUNTSir, the operation of the present system of examinations for officers at Greenwich is being carefully watched by the Admiralty; but I cannot admit that any injustice has been done by it. There is a standard fixed, and the young officers who fail to reach it, after two trials, are rejected. The question is, whether the standard is too high? Now, looking at the fact that out of the 112 sub-lieutenants who have been examined under the present system, only seven have been finally rejected, it would not appear that this is the case. We have to consider not only the personal interests of officers, but the good of the service, and if the standard is not fixed too high the service ought not to be burdened with officers who fail to pass it. No sub-lieutenant has been rejected who is in possession of first-class certificates both in seamanship and gunnery. One has been rejected who has a first-class certificate in the first of those subjects, because, after two trials, he did not obtain the minimum number of marks required for passing. I cannot see that at present any case is made out for a revision of the regulations.