§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what officers outside any ship have power to reduce the repair sheet of such ship; and what officers outside the said ship are responsible to the Admiralty for the efficiency of that ship's machinery?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Commander-in-Chief has power to amend the proposals made by the commanding officers in regard to the repair of ships under their command. The dockyard officers sometimes make alternative proposals which do not accord with those made by the ship's officers, but in such cases the work to be done is decided by the admiral superintendent of the dockyard in minor cases and the Admiralty in all other oases. In the event of any proposed items being deferred, the Commander-in-Chief and the dockyard officers are responsible for the same respectively.
§ Mr. ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe officers at the dockyard.
§ Mr. ASHLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it right that the officers of a ship should be liable to be brought before a court martial when they have no say in what repairs should be done to the machinery of the ship?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe hon. Gentleman asked what officers outside a ship had power to reduce the repair sheet? The question does not refer to officers inside a ship.