§ CAPTAIN PRICEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, What is the cost to Government of the ration allowed to a seaman in Her Majesty's Navy; whether, for convenience and economy to the Government, as well as for the comfort of the men, they are allowed to take the whole or part of this ration in money; if so, what sum of money does a man receive for his ration; and, if he would state what has this difference, between cost and value paid, amounted to annually during the last ten years, and in what way has it been made good to the men?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, the seaman's rations cost between 11d. and 1s. a-day. For the convenience of the seaman, ho is allowed, within certain limits, to save such part of his rations as he may think proper, and for the quantities saved he is paid at fixed rates, averaging nearly three-fourths of the cost price. The terms are intended to have the effect—except in the case of rum—of somewhat discouraging the practice, as the full ration is presumed to be the best for the maintenance of the seaman's bodily health. The difference between the sums so paid and the cost of the provisions had they been issued, is estimated in the Department to be about £60,000 a-year, and the money required to be voted by Parliament for provisions is diminished by that amount. Any such payments as I have described are, I believe, unknown in the Merchant Service, and are a free boon to the men of the Navy; the arrangement is voluntarily entered into on their part; and they have no claim to the difference between the actual cost of the articles and their savings prices.