§ Mr. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that men who have served their time in the Navy and who take their discharge do in many cases, when they have experienced the vicissitudes of the labour market, regret not having re-engaged; and, if so, will the Admiralty consider the possibility of saving such men for the service of the country by giving to every man who reaches that period of service at which he can claim his discharge a couple of months' leave, without pay, before taking his discharge, while allowing him at any time during such period to re-engage?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAEvery facility is given to deserving time-expired men to re-engage for a second period of service in the Navy and complete time for pension. If a man, however, persists in taking his discharge at the end of his first engagement he is still eligible to re-engage at any time within a period of five years; and if, thereafter, he serves the full period of re-engagement for pension, the same is not abated in respect of the period during which he was outside the Service. The present proposal to give a man two months' leave to look round for civil employment at the end of his first engagement is impracticable.