§ DR. KENNY (Cork, S.)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether he is aware that the late Surgeon Thomas Munan, of H.M.S. Wasp, lost when that vessel foundered in September, 1887, was the chief support of his widowed mother, who had expended nearly all her means in giving him his profession, and who is now left almost destitute by his death; and, whether, under the distressing circumstances of the case, and considering the fact that the Wasp was lost admittedly through being sent to sea under-manned, he will use his influence with the Treasury to procure for Mrs. Munan some adequate compensation for the loss of her son?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)I regret that the conditions of Mrs. Munan's case do not bring her within the scope of the Regulations that would authorize the Admiralty to assist her. It is not the case that the Wasp was undermanned. She had her full fighting complement on board, far more than was necessary for purposes of navigation.
§ DR. KENNYasked, whether the commander of the Wasp did not complain of being sent out under-manned?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONreplied in the negative. What the commander did say was that one of the officers under him was not so efficient as he could have wished; but that statement was contrary to the public record of the officer referred to.