§ 4.56 p.m.
§ LORD PORTSEA asked His Majesty's Government what facilities there may be for recruiting men and boys of the Norman Islands and of Newfoundland for His Majesty's Navy and if such facilities are to be extended. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this double Question relates to two parts of the Empire which are far distant from each other. The ocean divides them, a waste of seas, but at the same time they are very closely connected, for the connection between these isles and Newfoundland has been going on since the days of Sir Walter Raleigh. In those days, and even in my youth, the passage from Newfoundland if it did not last more than fifty days was considered to be a very quick passage. Now, as your Lordships are aware, it takes half that number of hours. Newfoundland is passing through a very distressful period, and it is, as you are aware, the oldest Colony belonging to this country. The men there earn their livelihood from their earliest days in deep sea fishing, and I am credibly informed that during the War they made some of the finest seamen who came to the assistance of the Mother Country. I am informed that it is not easy for boys and men to join the Navy, although they wish to do so and, as they are all sailors, such a proceeding would relieve the distress in that country.
§ A good deal of what I have said applies also to the Norman Islands. The men there are, of course, better known to your Lordships than those of Newfoundland. You have in your Lordships' House distinguished sailors, and you all know of Carteret, Saumarez, Dumarez, Tupper and O. de B. Brock, who have led fleets of this country. Both officers and men are recruited in comparatively large numbers from the islands, and almost invariably they have distinguished themselves. At this moment, however, having visited the islands recently, I can find no recruiting facilities for men, and particularly for boys, and I should wish to be told that the path for boys and men to join the Navy is to be made speedier and easier.
1106§ 4.59 p.m.
§ LORD CHATFIELDMy Lords, I have been asked to answer this Question raised by Lord Portsea, and I was, I confess, in a little difficulty to know which were the Norman Islands he referred to, because actually there are three or four Norman Islands in the world, one actually just North of Newfoundland.
§ LORD PORTSEAOne is old and the other is new.
§ LORD CHATFIELDI was not sure whether the old or the new was being referred to. I quite understand now that the islands he referred to are the islands which are more commonly called by us the Channel Islands. As regards the Channel Islands, I am informed that the situation is this: There are actually no recruiting offices for the Royal Navy in the Channel Islands, but a recruiting officer from Southampton spends a few days there once a quarter, and due publicity is given to his visit. A special recruiting campaign has been organised in connection with the visit of His Majesty's ship "Jersey" to St. Helier this week, and these facilities are considered adequate to meet the case. But of course there is no obstacle to men from the Channel, or Norman, Islands making their own way to this country for the purpose of joining the Navy.
Newfoundland, however, is somewhat different, though there also there is no recruiting office for the Royal Navy; but arrangements are made for prospective recruits to be examined and entered when one of His Majesty's ships visits St. John's, which occurs at not unduly long intervals. The possibility, however, of extending the facilities of recruitment in Newfoundland is being examined. I should like to agree most heartily with the noble Lord as regards the great efficiency as seamen of those men from Newfoundland, which, as he says, was so thoroughly well proved in the last War. There is, of course, in this case also, no objection to men finding their own way, but I admit it is difficult for them to do that. The whole matter is under consideration, and I hope that it may be possible to provide greater facilities for men from Newfoundland to join the Navy if and when they wish to do so.
§ House adjourned at two minutes past five o'clock.