MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty—(1) whether the scheme for introducing officers of the Mercantile Marine into the Navy, as set forth in the London Gazette of 26th July last, will, if carried into effect, result in the Sub-Lieutenants from 22 to 25 years of age to be so introduced receiving higher pay and allowance than the Sub-Lieutenants who have entered in the usual manner by joining the Britannia at or about the age of 13, and who are now serving in the Navy; (2) whether the Lieutenants from 25 to 35 years of age to be so introduced will be put over the heads of the Sub-Lieutenants now serving in the Navy; (3) whether both the Sub-Lieutenants and the Lieutenants to be thus introduced will be placed under the same conditions of retirement and pension as the Sub-Lieutenants and Lieutenants now serving; and, if not, what differences will be made between these and those; (4) and, whether, before adopting this scheme, Her Majesty's Government took into consideration the advisability of promoting to Lieutenant's rank a sufficient number of the Sub-Lieutenants, and of the deserving and capable Warrant Officers now serving; and, if so, on what grounds this method of filling up the Lietenants' List was rejected in favour of that adopted?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. G. J. GOSCHEN,), St. George's, Hanover Squarewho was very indistinctly heard, was understood to say that the officers introduced from the Mercantile Marine into the Royal Navy would not receive higher pay and allowances than the Sub-Lieutenants of the Navy, except in so far that they would receive 1s. a day for mess allowances. With regard to the third question of the hon. Member, the system of retirement pensions granted to the Sub-Lieutenants and Lieutenants now serving in the Navy was infinitely more favourable than that which would accrue to the officers introduced from the Mercantile Marine. He believed the difference was as much as £100 a year in favour of the officers now serving. Of course, the Lieutenants introduced from the Mercantile Marine would take seniority above the Sub-Lieutenants now serving in the Navy. Before the adoption of the scheme the Government 903 took into consideration every possible alternative, and the whole matter was thoroughly threshed out before the decision was arrived at. With regard to the promotion of Sub-Lieutenants, their time of serving before they received promotion had now been reduced to what was considered a minimum.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESasked whether it was not the fact that by the order in the London Gazette the Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants who would be thus introduced into the Navy would be granted an equipment allowance of £40 and £30 respectively, while no such equipment allowance was given to Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants in the Navy. With regard to the question of retirement, he wished to know whether, although the mercantile officers retired with a smaller sum, they did not retire under much more favourable circumstances than the right hon. Gentleman had stated, and whether the difference in pay of the Mercantile Marine Sub-Lieutenants and the naval Sub-Lieutenants was not 2s. a day to the benefit of the mercantile officers?
§ MR. GOSCHENsaid, that his informamation was not the same as that of his hon. Friend, but he would make further inquiry. He had been informed that all the circumstances were much in favour of the Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants now serving. The scheme had been adopted in order to satisfy a temporary emergency in regard to the number of Lieutenants, and terms must be offered to the mercantile service which would attract the best men from that service?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)asked whether appointments had been made or were in contemplation?
§ MR. GOSCHENsaid that appointments were in immediate contemplation, and he was glad to say that there were applications from officers in the Royal Naval Reserve who had already served in Her Majesty's ships.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to give notice that I shall call attention to the matter on the Estimates. [Cheers.]