HC Deb 22 July 1879 vol 248 cc968-9
MR. MACDONALD

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If his attention has been drawn to a paragraph headed "Naval Discipline," in "Capital and Labour," dated the 16th instant, on page 431 of that journal, which reads as follows:— NAVAL DISCIPLINE.—A court martial was held at Sheerness on Monday, on board the Admiral's ship, to try a seaman for disobeying orders and for striking a petty officer. As the plea was 'guilty' no evidence was needed, and after an hour's deliberation the Court adjudged the prisoner to the astounding punishment of two years' imprisonment, the first week in each month to be passed in solitary confinement, and the remainder of the time in hard labour; whether the persons who composed the court martial were naval officers; and, whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the whole circumstances of the case; and, in the meantime, if he will take steps to stay the carrying out of any part of a sentence apparently so severe?

MR. W. H. SMITH

Sir, my attention has been drawn to the paragraph to which the hon. Gentleman alludes. The court martial was composed, as the Rules of the Service require, of Naval officers. The circumstances have already been reported to the Admiralty, and they show that the offences for which the prisoner was tried were of the most grave character—being deliberate and I repeated disobedience of lawful and reasonable commands of his superior officer, followed up by an assault. I admit that the sentence is a severe one; but I am not prepared to say that it was excessive, if regard is had to the absolute necessity of maintaining discipline in the Service. As I only received Notice of the Question yesterday, I have had no opportunity of getting a Report from the officers who composed the court martial, and, therefore, it is impossible for me to say whether any portion of the sentence can be remitted.