§ 4. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Government to extend to time-expired men in the Navy the same bounties as are to be given to time-expired men in the Army called up under the Military Service Act?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASection 9 of the Naval Enlistment Act, 1853, enacts that in the event of His Majesty by Proclamation calling upon the seamen serving in His Majesty's Navy to extend the term of their services, any seaman to whom such Proclamation shall extend and whose term of service shall have expired at the date of such Proclamation, or may expire while such Proclamation shall continue in force, may be required to serve for a period of five years from the expiration of such term, and shall for such extension of service be entitled to such bounty as may be given by such Proclamation.
Under the Royal Proclamation of August, 1914, the bounty is denned as a "gratuity of three pounds ten shillings for clothing and bedding," and this sum, together with a special allowance of 2d. per diem "Detained pay," is being paid to all ratings entitled thereto under the Regulations governing the pay of men detained beyond the period of their engagements. Should these men complete time for pension during the War any additional service will count in augmentation of pension.
As regards time-expired seamen who are in receipt of pensions, the Admiralty has power, under the Naval Volunteers Act, 1853, to call them up whenever an emergency shall arise, and has exercised such power. The liability to be so called up is a condition under which they receive their pension. Time served while so called up will count towards increase of pension.
1496 Having regard, therefore to the powers conferred on the Admiralty, it does not appear that there is any necessity to offer further special inducements of the nature referred to in the question.