§ SIR CHARLES DALRYMPLE (Ipswich)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether specific information was supplied last year by four under-masters of Greenwich Hospital School in regard to abuses existing there; and a pledge was given in writing that the information supplied should be privileged, and on the faith of the pledge further information was supplied; whether, at the inquiry held at the school by a committee consisting of two persons, the officials reflected upon were present the whole time; whether three out of the four under-masters were subsequently dismissed, the fourth having meanwhile obtained a better appointment elsewhere; and whether many important alterations since made have so far shown that the information supplied was justified?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON,) DundeeSpecific statements were made last year by three of the assistant masters of Greenwich Hospital School and a former assistant master, affecting the integrity of certain officers of the school and as to alleged abuses. The letter stating the charges stipulated that they (the assistant masters) were not to suffer in any way for supplying the information provided the truth of their statements was proved to the satisfaction of the Admiralty. With the concurrence of the Education Department, a committee was appointed to inquire into these matters, consisting of Rear-Admiral Rice and the Rev. T. W. Sharpe, Chief Inspector of Schools. The committee reported that the statements affecting the integrity of the officers were reckless, unfounded, and malicious. Upon receiving this report it was found necessary, in the interests of the school, that the services of the assistant masters referred to should not be continued. They received the usual three months' notice to which all masters are subject. The officers of the school who were specially referred to in the statements were present during the inquiry. In the course of the inquiry it was shown that in some matters of minor importance alterations were called for, and the Admiralty have since taken steps to effect improvements.