§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty to what extent cadetships in His Majesty's naval forces are reserved for the sons of Colonists; and whether reciprocally cadetships in the forces maintained by any of the self-governing Colonies are reserved for the sons of Englishmen, or Scotchmen, or Irishmen.
(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) Under the agreements come to at the Colonial Conference in 1902, and published in the Blue-book [Cd. 1299] of that year, appointments to naval cadetships are, subject to the candidates passing the prescribed physical and educational tests, placed at the disposal of the Secretary of State annually for the following Colonies:—Australia, eight; New Zealand, two; The Cape, two; Natal, one. Besides these thirteen, the Secretary of State may allot two more to boys belonging to Colonies which do not, like these, make a contribution to the Imperial Navy. There are no appointments in the Colonial naval forces analogous to cadetships in the Imperial Navy.