MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, have all the effects been considered of the changes in designation of rank proposed by the new scheme dealing with the training and employment of officers, and stated to be designed to harmonise the position of Engineer Officers with the spirit of the future organisation. Will one effect of it be that the Chief Inspector of Machinery at Jamaica dockyard will on the 1st April next become an Engineer Rear Admiral while the Captain Superintendent of the dockyard remains a Captain; will the new Rear Admiral cease to be responsible to the Captain for the machinery of the ships, and cease to report thereon to 1354 him and to take orders thereon from the Captain. Will the same arrangement as at Jamaica be carried out at all other dockyards where the same conditions obtain; and were the admirals in command on the various stations informed or consulted upon the new scheme before its adoption.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe effects of the changes in designation of rank have been fully considered, and all the orders connected therewith will be shortly issued in the usual form of an Admiralty circular. When this circular is published it will be seen that no such contingency will arise as that which is anticipated in the Question. There is no Chief Inspector of Machinery at Jamaica, or at any foreign dockyard. There was a Chief Inspector of Machinery at Bermuda, but he has been succeeded by an Inspector of Machinery. The First Lord sent a copy of his Memorandum at the time of issue to all the admirals in command of foreign stations. There was no necessity to consult them on the new scheme before its adoption, as the Board of Admiralty, from the nature of its constitution, is fully competent to act on its own initiative.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESWas the copy of the Memorandum sent without any suggestion or expectation of replies being received.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe Admiralty had the advantage of the opinions of a great many officers—flag officers and otherwise. I cannot add anything to my answer.