§ Mr. HERBERT CRAIGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he could make a statement as to the position adopted by the present Canadian, Government with regard to the Canadian Navy; and whether he had any official information showing that the Canadian Government had decided to drop the scheme for imperial naval defence adopted by the late Government and approved by the Colonial Conference?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I have received no official information on the subject.
§ Mr. MARTINIs it not true that the Canadian Navy is utterly useless for any purpose whatever except for wasting public money?
§ Mr. HERBERT CRAIGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he could state what effect the dropping of the Canadian Navy by the present Canadian Ministry would have upon the status and careers of those officers of the Royal Navy whose services had been lent to the Canadian Navy; and whether such officers had prejudiced their prospects of promotion in the Royal Navy by transferring their services to the Canadian Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn the contingency contemplated in the hon. Member's question, the officers on the active list who have been lent would return for service in the Imperial Navy. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. Service in the Dominion Navy counts in all respects as though it were service in the Imperial Navy.
§ Mr. MARTINIs it true that one of these officers of the Royal Navy has 20 recently been found guilty of negligence by a court martial, for running a Canadian boat on the rocks, and that another such officer is now being tried by a court martial?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt would not be desirable for me to reply in cases of individuals without having an opportunity of seeing the question on the Paper and verifying the facts.