CAPTAIN PRICEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is a fact that the non-commissioned officers and privates, Royal Marines, have been, since 1876, in respect of pay, considerably in arrear of those of equal rank in the Army; whether there are any and what counterbalancing advantages; and, whether Her Majesty's Government propose to abolish the difference in pay between the two branches of the Service?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, there is no intention to assimilate the rates of pay and allowances of the Marines and the Army. It is true, as I have often stated in this House, there are considerable differences existing between them; but the conditions of the two Services differ so much that no true comparison can be made between them. An important advantage enjoyed by the Marines, as compared with the Army, is, of course, the permanent establishment of the several divisions at Portsmouth, Chatham, Devonport, and Walmer.