§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will direct that a first-class dockyard tender, to wit the Magnet, be held in readiness at Portsmouth Dock-yard, at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday next, for the purpose of conveying such Members of the House of Commons as may desire to travel down to Portsmouth to inspect the large fleet of war vessels now assembled at Spithead, preparatory to their taking part in the Summer Manœuvres, with a view to strengthen the interest which the People's Representatives should take in their country's First Line of Defence? The hon. and gallant Gentleman added that they did not ask the Admiralty to provide lunch.
TEE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing), in reply, said, that with the exception of the hon. and gallant Member no other Member of Parliament had intimated any such desire. He must remind him that the Magnet was only a steam tug.
§ ADMIRAL FIELDI know it well.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONsaid, it had very insufficient accommodation; so that if the present wind and weather continued those who embarked on board the Magnet would not be very comfortable.
§ ADMIRAL FIELDasked, whether the First Lord would not allow some of the 10 or 15 gunboats to be used to convey Members? These were admirably adapted for the purpose.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONsaid, that if there was any general wish on the part of a considerable number of Members of the House that such vessels as the Magnet should be placed at their disposal, he would try to make arrangements to meet their desire. But he must repeat that he had heard no such expression of opinion.
§ ADMIRAL FIELDThey were waiting for the answer.