§ 24. Sir B. FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether men who are messed under the general messing system are required by the paymaster-commander in charge of general messing to pay mess bills, observing that the Navy Estimates state that the men are provided with complete messing under the general messing scheme?
Mr. ALEXANDERA full dietary is provided under the system of general messing, the basis being to provide what is most popular with the greatest number, and the arrangements are always open to suggestions from the ship's company as a whole. There should consequently be no necessity to incur mess bills, but if men choose to take up extras outside the menu they must expect to pay for them.