§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a circular letter was issued in December, 1904, that no ship will be in dockyard hands for more than thirty working days in each year; and whether the case of H.M.S. "New Zealand," which left the Channel Fleet on 23rd April and was away 113 days before her defects were completed, indicates that the rule has been abandoned, seeing that the ship was not replaced during the time she was away.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The "New Zealand" was in dockyard hands for repairs 749 and alterations seventy-nine days, not 113, as stated in the Question. I may point out that only ninety-eight days have elapsed from the 23rd April up till now. The inference in the last part of the Question is not correct. The Admiralty exercise their discretion in any case which seems to justify any relaxation of the usual procedure.