MR. AETHUR O'CONNOEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether the average of Assistant Paymasters in the Royal Navy before promotion to the rank of Paymaster has increased since 1870 from nine years to fifteen years, and whether the service in the lower rank is not likely to increase still more in years to come; and, whether he will consider the justice of ameliorating the condition of these officers, either by allowing service over eight years' seniority as Assistant Paymasters to count as senior service, or in some other manner?
MR. CAMPBELL-BANNEEMANSir, the length of service of officers in the rank of assistant paymaster has gradually increased from 10 years in 1870 to 15 years in 1883. During the last 18 months, however, considerably more vacancies in the higher rank have occurred than the average number in previous years, and if this continues it 477 will tend to prevent further increase in the seniority of the junior rank. The state of things pointed out by the hon. Member is due to the entry in past years of a number of officers in excess of the requirements of the Service, an error which we are now carefully avoiding; and we do not regard the temporary retardation of promotion as requiring an alteration of the conditions of service, which, taken as a whole, are satisfactory. The pay of assistant paymasters in the later years of their service was materially improved so recently as 1877.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked whether the conditions were satisfactory to the officers themselves?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI say that, taken as a whole, I do not think there is any reason to complain.