§ 27. Mr. RICHARD LAMBERTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that some of the seamen of His 542 Majesty's ship "Magnificent" who were given two or three days' leave from Chatham have had to pay their railway fares to their respective homes and back; whether he is aware that some of the men have had to travel a considerable distance; and whether the Admiralty will see that the men are paid their railway fares when proceeding on leave to and from their homes in similar cases in future?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe men referred to were sent to their depot at Chatham after paying off from His Majesty's ship "Magnificent," and were given leave from Chatham. Special concessions have been granted to seamen whose ships put into ports, other than their home ports, in such circumstances, but this concession does not apply to men given leave from their depots. Further consideration is being given to the conditions under which free warrants may be issued.