§ 35. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the services rendered and the hard work done by men of the lower deck since the outbreak of war, and the fact that second-class petty officer ratings have been abolished for some eight years past, he can see his way to extend further the number of first-class petty officer ratings?
§ The SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)The number of petty officers is governed and must continue to be governed by the actual needs of the Naval Service. I may observe, however, with regard to second-class petty officers (old system) that when this rating was abolished, men holding it were allowed to retain it, arrangements being made at the same time that the abolition of the rating should be attended by an increase in the number of leading seamen, the increase being made gradually as petty officers, second-class, were absorbed.