§ Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that an Admiralty Order, numbered T 4957/05, purported to deprive dispensers of the right to first-class passages when travelling by sea; whether he is aware that the Order is in direct contravention of Her late Majesty's Order in Council dated the 15th October, 1872, which included dispensers in the list of salaried officers and conferred upon them all the advantages appertaining thereto, inter alia, the right to first-class passages on first appointment to an establishment abroad and on final relief from such appointment; whether he will see that right secured to them by the Order in Council is restored, or state what is the reason for depriving dispensers of the above privilege; and what power the Admiralty possesses enabling them to overrule an Order in Council?
§ Mr. McKENNAAn Admiralty Order was issued in 1905 directing second class accommodation to be used for a number of classes of salaried officers, including dispensers. This matter is at the discretion of the Admiralty, and first class travel is not one of the advantages bestowed by the Order in Council referred to. The decision was taken by the Government in 788 1905 on the ground, I am informed, that the expense of first class travel was not justifiable in the case of minor civil officers with small salaries.