§ CAPTAIN VERNEYasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Having regard to Order No. 252, page 60, of the Queen's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, holding out to the seamen of the Fleet 1915 hopes of special promotion for acts of gallantry and daring, which Order has been stated to have remained for thirty-three years a dead letter, whether he will inform the House if it be the intention of the Admiralty either to cancel that Order or to give it effect?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. HIBBERT)The present condition of entry, education, and promotion of naval officers have prevented hitherto any special promotion of seamen to commissioned officer, except such as is provided for in the commissioned ranks of chief warrant officer; and the recent wars in which the Navy has borne part have not been of such a nature, from a naval point of view, as to give sufficient reason for the exercise of the powers given in the Article quoted by the hon. and gallant Member. The Admiralty do not intend to cancel the Order, as if we were involved in a great national struggle it might have a very beneficial effect.