§ * SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, considering the intention of the Admiralty to permanently enter in the Navy several lieutenants and sub-lieutenants of the Royal Naval Reserve as lieutenants and sub-lieutenants, a certain number of lieutenants' commissions per year could be offered to Naval warrant officers, provided they could pass the examination that sub-lieutenants do now, at Greenwich in mathematics, and at Portsmouth in pilotage and torpedo work, and be recommended by their captains as being fit for the position.
MR. GOSCHENThe Order in Council which enables the Admiralty to enter on the permanent list of the Navy 684 several lieutenants and sub-lieutenants of the Royal Naval Reserve carried out a plan adopted by the late Board of Admiralty, though the present one accepts the full responsibility of it. This entry of officers is an exceptional measure intended to meet a temporary emergency; but it is not intended to weaken or supersede the system—which has been in force for many years with most satisfactory results—of entry into the executive commissioned ranks of the service solely through the Britannia. ["Hear, hear!"]