HC Deb 15 March 1889 vol 333 c1914

The offices of Chaplain of the Fleet and of Inspector of Naval Schools have been combined, and the arrangement seems to work satisfactorily.

The arrangements affecting instruction of Engineer students, referred, to in last year's Statement, have been completed. The training is now carried on at Davenport alone. The students have been made subordinate officers of the Royal Navy. The period of instruction is to be reduced to five (and in some cases four) years. Only those who attain a certain standard at the final Examination will be allowed a period of further study at the Royal Naval College; the remainder will commence service afloat at once.

The direct entry of Assistant Engineers at the Royal Naval College will commence in 1890.

It has been found necessary to increase the number of Engine-room Ratings by the following numbers:—

Besides these numbers 200 Stokers have been added to the Coast Guard; though this addition to the Coast Guard will hardly be attained in the coming year, as only men of specified service and very good character are appointed.

Complaints have been made as to the quality of the Stokers of the 2nd Class. The increase which it has been found necessary to make in this class has led to numerous entries, and as many of the men are rather young, efforts are being made to obtain men of better physique.

The chief increases in other ratings are—

Subordinate Officers 280
Seamen class, Men and Boys 390
Artificers 100
Marines 1,100

including in the Marines men added to the Corps on account of duties to be performed by it as Buglers, Lamptrimmers, &c., in lieu of non-combatant ratings.

Arrangements have been made for the gradual reduction of Artificer and Stoker Pensioners in the Steam Reserves, whose places will be supplied by Active Service men. The reduction is gradual, owing to the desire not to deal hardly with men who do their Harbour work well, though rather old for sea service, if called on in an emergency,

The pay of the Signal Class has been improved, to put them on an equality with other Seamen class ratings, who can attain the higher Gunnery qualifications from which they are debarred.

The number of Signal ratings borne in Ships will be increased, and provision has been made for training more Signal Boys.

It is also intended to establish a School for higher training, and instruction given to all boys whilst in their Training Ships will be increased.

Progress has been made in reducing some of the non-combatant ratings which are to disappear entirely, or almost so.

These include—

Besides these, in accordance with recommendations of the Ratings Committee or previous decisions, the following ratings will be abolished:—

Schoolmasters are to be withdrawn from all but Boys' Training Ships, and the numbers will be considerably reduced. Those selected for the new establishment will receive improved pay and pension. The number of Schoolmasters of the Royal Marines has been reduced, owing to abolition of compulsory School after leaving the Depôt.

The Carpenter class will be reduced in number by the gradual abolition of Unskilled

Skilled Shipwrights being substituted for the last in proportion of 2 to 3. It is estimated that 326 non-combatants can thus be reduced. Skilled Leading Shipwright, 2nd Class Petty Officer, will be introduced.

The previous compulsory training of seamen gunners in Torpedo duties has been made optional, and restricted to men who take 1st class in Gunnery.

Gymnastic instruction has been established in mastless ships.

These changes and the increase to the number voted last year have caused a rise in Votes 1 and 2 of £275,300, as compared with the estimate of the preceding year. Of this amount, £78,900 is contained in a new Vote, No. 14, which deals with half-pay as a separate item. Half-pay in the previous year was contained in a subhead of Vote 1.