§ MR. T. C. H. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, upon the trial of H.M.S. Powerful, it was ascertained that, if steamed at full speed, she would exhaust her bunker coal in forty-eight hours; and, if so, he would consider the desirability of keeping her at home, seeing that her full speed consumption of coal would be equal to about £800 per day, or £288,000 per annum?
§ MR. MACARTNEYThe proposition stated in the first paragraph of the Question is not admitted; the second paragraph is apparently based on the supposition that the Powerful would steam at full speed for 21 hours 305 days in the year. The Powerful was not designed, built, or commissioned for this purpose.
§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)Will the hon. Gentleman say to what extent he admits the facts?
§ MR. MACARTNEYI do not admit them to any extent.
§ MR. W. ALLAN: (Gateshead)May I ask if the cost of the coal consumption of the Powerful is not equal to the sum put down in the Question?
§ MR. MACARTNEYThat is not the Question on the Paper.