§ "For the purposes of Section 46 of the principal Act 'Marine' includes every warrant officer of Marines, except. Royal Marine gunners, and 'soldier' does not include a soldier who has not been finally accepted for service."
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."
The new Clause smooths out two small administrative matters in regard to Section 46 of the principal Act, which is the soldiers' and sailors' Section. It was put upon the Paper some time ago by the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Worthington-Evans), and I am quite sure he will agree with my proposal. Our intention is that the Marine warrant officer like the Army warrant officer shall come under Section 46. It was our view down to a little time ago that he was in, but a difficulty arose. The Royal Marine gunner 3356 has the rank of a Naval warrant officer, and is therefore not in. We do not want any soldier in Section 46 who is at a station, because he might be refused on medical grounds. We do not want him in until he is finally accepted for service.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have not the slightest objection to the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman. I took my name off the Clause because I was not going to take the responsibility for it, as I had not had time to consider it. The Government themselves have taken the responsibility for it.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause added to the Bill.