§ Mr. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the young officers now being trained afloat will do duty in the engine-room and will then have executive rank; if so, will the engineer commander and the other senior engine-room officers also have executive power; and, if not, how do the Admiralty propose to regulate the relations of the senior and junior engineers.
§ Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Answer to the first Question is in the affirmative. In answer to the second: Under existing regulations the senior engineer officer has, under the captain, all necessary authority within his own department, and is to be obeyed by his subordinates. In answer to the third Question: It will not be necessary to determine the future relations of the engineer officers of the old and new style for some time to come.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I take it that there will be a reorganisation of the status of the old engineer officers before the new officers with executive rank are placed under them in the engine-room?
§ Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSONIt is. not a question as between the new and the old.