§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Secretary to the Admiralty why only ten artificer-engineers were promoted to chief artificer-engineer's rank on the 1st April, seeing that during last year fifty-one promotions to the latter rank took place; if it is the intention of the Admiralty to keep up the 1918 rate during this year; why promotions to artificer-engineer's rank has so fallen off during the current year, seeing that seventy-four promotions to this rank took place in 1918; and if he will assign the reason for the apparent slowing down, compared with the 1918 rate, of promotion of engine-room artificers to chief engine room artificers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is not, I am advised, the intention to alter the proportion of chief artificer-engineers borne to the artificer-engineers borne. The numbers promoted to the rank of artificer-engineer have fallen off as, hostilities having ceased, the requirements of that rank have decreased, and promotion to rank of chief artificer-engineer will necessarily be slower. Ten promotions only were made to chief artificer-engineer on 1st April, 1919, in order to avoid an excess of the numbers of that rank, which would necessitate a reduction in their numbers later on. An examination for the rank of artificer-engineer will take place in September next; the number of promotions made will depend on the result of the examination, and the number of officers required of that rank. As regards the last part of the question, the proportion of chief engine-room artificers to the total of the class remains the same.