§ 9. Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he will give information in regard to the type and duration of the course of training given on the training ship "Dufferin," Bombay; whether this training is sufficient to enable the boys passed out of the "Dufferin" to be taken into the Royal Indian Marine; and the number of boys from the "Dufferin" who have been so absorbed?
§ Mr. BENNI am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the prospectus of the "Dufferin," which I hope will give him the information for which he asks in the first part of the question. As regards the remainder, a special competition limited to "Dufferin" cadets was held last May with a view to facilitating the entry of such cadets into the Royal Indian Marine. The examination was assimilated in standard and type to that for the admission of candidates from mercantile marine training establishments in this country to the Royal Navy. Unfortunately none of the candidates succeeded in reaching the prescribed qualifying standard. A further competition will he held next autumn and in the meantime additional tuition will be afforded by the introduction of a special coaching class. A modification in the list of subjects is also being considered in the light of the results of the last examination.