§ MR. E. J. REEDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the inconsistencies in the Reports of the Committee on the Site for the Naval Cadets' College, as shown by the statement in the text that the Milford Haven (Newton Noyes) site is rejected on the ground of "immoral temptations," whereas the Tabular Report, signed by the chairman, declares it to he "unobjectionable in this respect; "by the Tabular Report stating that the bathing accommodation at Mount Boon is "very good," whereas the text states that it is not so, but would require extension and improvement; and, by rejecting a site (Newton Noyes) which the Tabular Report shows to be suitable in all respects 1207 excepting some moistness of climate, and recommending the Mount Boon site, the climate of which is described in the Report as "a moist one," with an average rainfall "greater than that of any other south-west site visited;" and, what steps he proposes to take in order to furnish the House with correct and consistent information on this subject?
§ MR. HUNT:I sent a copy of the hon. Gentleman's Question to the Chairman of the Committee (Admiral Wellesley), thinking that was the best way of obtaining an answer to it. In reply I have received a letter from the Chairman, who says—
The answers in the Tabular Statement must be considered as comparative, and generally as in regard to other sites in the same locality. With regard to Newton Noyes the expression should, perhaps, more properly have been less objectionable,' meaning thereby less so than Castle Hall,' but they are both too near the seaport town of Milford, though it would be easier to restrict visits from Newton Noyes than from Castle Hall. I do not see the discrepancy as regards bathing at Mount Boon. The text says, 'at present the facilities for bathing are not all that can be desired, but might be extended and improved,' and then surely we are not wrong in saying that they will afford very good facility.' I assume facility and capability of being made so are understood as convertible terms, otherwise our Report may mislead, as any site must require a good deal of adaptation, &c. The question as I understood it was as to whether the sites possessed [facilities] or were capable of being made to answer each purpose. Mr. Reed seems to overlook the fact that we objected at the outset to Milford Haven as having the disadvantages, though in a less degree, of the other dockyard ports. The medical men, therefore, have not said their say in regard to climate, &c., which would alone condemn it as being many degrees worse as to rain and damp than Devonport and other places.The explanation of the Chairman of the Committee appears to me to be satisfactory, and to reconcile the seeming inconsistencies which the hon. Member points out.