§ MR. E. H. LAMB (Rochester)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, before the scheme of pay and terms of employment of writers was approved, due inquiry was made into the duties performed by the writing staffs in all departments of the naval establishments in which writers are employed and also in all corresponding departments at the Admiralty; and whether he will state on what grounds it is proposed not to continue establishment for the grade corresponding to first-class writer; and if, because of interchange-ability of duties with another class, he will say on what grounds it is approved to continue two grades.
(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, it was found that under the former scheme established and hired writers were performing similar work, the latter with less pay and little or no prospect of establishment, which was the cause of much discontent. The new scheme provides for one class only; but, in order to promote efficiency and give encouragement to good men, it was found necessary for administrative purposes to divide the class into two grades.
MR. E. H. LAMBTo ask the Secretary to the Admiralty with reference to revised scheme of pay and terms of employment for writers, whether, in giving their decision regarding question of alteration of title, the Admiralty will take into consideration the fact that the present title is a misnomer and that an alteration, while involving no expense, would cause keen satisfaction to the men concerned; and whether he is aware that however capable a principal writer may be he is unable at present, in many departments, to rise above that grade, and seeing that the best interests of the service require that zeal and efficiency shall be encouraged, and in order to recognise meritorious service, he will arrange that a proportion of the vacancies in the directing staff of store departments of the Admiralty shall be given to deserving principal writers, on the recommendation of the heads of their Departments, observing that the principle of promotion from the lower to the higher positions obtains in the naval and military services.
(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson) The Answer to the first part of the Question is that the present title is considered the most suitable, having in view the nature of the duties to be performed. As regards the latter part of the Question, principal writers have, in exceptional cases, been selected to fill higher appointments; but it is not possible to lay down any general rule for the future.