§ In reply to Mr. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.),
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)said, it was the fact that a small Departmental Committee had been appointed to inquire into the clerical establishments of the Admiralty. When he was preparing the Estimates last year, he found that considerable reductions could be made in certain establishments if the Treasury would give the Admiralty a free hand for the purpose of pensioning those who had not sufficient work. Certain correspondence ensued, and a short time ago the approval of the Treasury was obtained, so far as to justify the Admiralty in making inquiry; and it was for the purpose of ascertaining how far reductions could be made that this Committee had been appointed. He did not suppose it would interfere at all with the Report of the Royal Commission.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORinquired, whether the First Lord would lay on the Table a statement showing what, in the opinion of the Admiralty Authorities, would be an adequate allowance for the Admiralty establishment?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONIt is for that object the Committee was appointed.