§ SIR WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the failures of vessels of His Majesty's Navy, both when under trial and at sea, and the number of new vessels now condemned to costly repairs; also taking into consideration the cost of repairs as given in the late Return on Navy Boilers, he will consider the desirability of instituting by Royal Commission an into the Admiralty administration of naval affairs, especially as regards types of vessels, machinery, guns, men, and reserves.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman complains of the boiler policy of the Admiralty in the first part of the Question, and on that subject there has 883 been a Committee of Inquiry, as he knows. I think the fact that, in the lion. Gentleman's judgment, the boiler policy of the Admiralty is not a satisfactory one, is hardly a sufficient reason for demanding a Royal Commission to inquire into the general administration of naval affairs—"types of vessels, machinery, guns, men, and reserves." It seems to go a good deal beyond boilers.
§ SIR WILLIAM ALLANMay I say I am not dealing with boilers exclusively. Am I to understand that the Government will do nothing to restore the confidence of the country in the Navy and its administration?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI hope that that confidence still remains unshaken, but, if it be shaken, I am very confident that a Royal Commission will not restore it.