HC Deb 18 August 1909 vol 9 c1359
Mr. COURTHOPE

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will take steps to alter the regulations now in force at naval depots whereby an officer, when appointed to a depot for work unconnected with that depot, is compelled to pay a subscription of over £1 per month and his savings to the extent of 10d. per day to the officers' mess of the depot, whether he uses the mess or not?

The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)

The maintenance of a depot ship's ward room mess, which is for the benefit of the officers as a whole, would not be practicable unless all the officers borne on the books of the depot are required to subscribe; and it is therefore not proposed to make any change in the existing system.

Mr. COURTHOPE

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider if some relaxation cannot be made in the case of engineer officers?

Mr. McKENNA

I will inquire into that point. But there is difficulty, I understand, in relaxing the rule.