HC Deb 15 March 1877 vol 232 cc2013-5

"That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £8,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment in respect of various Miscellaneous Services' during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1877."

MR. PARNELL

asked for what the Vote was required?

MR. HUNT

said, it was to meet a claim of £8,000 by the Indian Government for wear and tear of the Serapis on the voyage of the Prince of Wales to and from India.

GOURLEY

could not understand how such a charge could arise, as the Serapis was specially fitted out at considerable expense for the voyage. He thought that some further explanation should be given in respect to it.

MR. A. F. EGERTON

said, the vessel was worked at a higher speed than usual, and her engines and hull suffered a greater depreciation than they would otherwise have done had she been worked at nine knots instead of 12.

MR. D. JENKINS

thought the Vote excessive, and moved that it be reduced by £4,000.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £4,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment in respect of various Miscellaneous Services' during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1877."—(Mr. David Jenkins.)

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

asked whether the Vote was in addition to the sum already paid for the hire of the vessel?

MR. A. F. EGERTON

explained that no sum was paid for hire. The vessel was employed upon Imperial service in conveying the Prince of Wales, and it was upon that ground that the Indian Government claimed this sum. This subject had been very carefully considered by the India Office and the Admiralty, and the claim was reduced to £8,000, with the approval of the director of transports, on behalf of the Admiralty and the India Office, as a fair settlement.

MR. W. WHITWORTH

thought the sum was excessive, and that £4,000 would be adequate.

MR. CHILDERS

inquired by what calculation the sum of £8,000 had been arrived at?

MR. A. F. EGERTON

said, unfortunately he had not the calculations with him, but they had been carefully gone into both by the Admiralty and the India Office, and the former were quite satisfied as to their accuracy, and consented to pay the amount.

Question put, and negatived.

Original Question put, and agreed to.

Resolutions to be reported.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a sum, not exceeding £2,684,048, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Expense of Wages, &c. to Seamen and Marines, which will come in course of payment during the year of March 1878.

MR. GOSCHEN

said, this was not a supplementary Estimate of a few thousands, but one of over £2,000,000, and would give rise to a discussion of the naval policy of the Government. When the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Admiralty made his statement, it came on at so late an hour that it was impossible then to discuss the very many important and interesting points of policy that were raised in that statement, and it was arranged that this Vote should be taken on a day and at an hour when it could be thoroughly discussed. Under those circumstances, he asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he intended to proceed at that hour, or whether he would defer the Committee to another day? If commenced then, it would be impossible to finish the discussion that night.

MR. HUNT

said, that when the money Estimates were put on the Paper for that night it was not supposed by the Government that the discussion on the supplemental Votes, standing before the Vote for wages for the men, would have occupied so long a time. He felt the force of the right hon. Gentleman's remarks, and, therefore, he would postpone the Vote until Monday, when it would stand first on the Paper.

Motion made, and Question, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again," put, and agreed to.

Resolutions to be reported To-morrow;Committee also report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.