§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty on what stations Her Majesty's ships Curaçoa, Lizard, and Rapid have been employed since leaving this country early in 1891; whether it is true that the crews of these vessels are being detained abroad contrary to the understanding when they embarked, and that reliefs are not likely to be sent until the end of the current year; and whether the Admiralty will take into their consideration a system of bringing ships home at short intervals for exchange of crews and service in home and foreign waters?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH,) Lancashire, ClitheroeThe Curaçoa, Lizard, and Rapid were re-commissioned at Sydney on the 5th of November, 1891. The crews were sent out earlier in that year, and reliefs will be sent in the course of the current year. For about six years these ships have been employed on the Australian Station. It is not known at the Admiralty to what special understanding my hon. Friend refers in the second paragraph of his question. While there is 163 no rule binding upon the Admiralty, it is now the regular practice, so far as the exigencies of the Public Service will allow, to relieve ships or change their crews soon after the expiration of three years' service on foreign stations.