§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the duties of the recently-appointed shipowner, Mr. Arthur Ritson, at the Admiralty; and whether, in regard to the interests of merchant shipping in face of the submarine menace, he will consider the appointment of a merchant shipmaster to assist Mr. Ritson?
§ Dr. MACNAMARA:As announced in the public Press on the 9th May, 1917, Mr. Ritson's duties are those of adviser on shipping matters to the Admiralty War Staff. Mr. Ritson himself for several years commanded merchant steam vessels. A large number of Royal Naval Reserve officers, many of whom have been masters of ships, are employed in connection with the direction of merchant shipping, and the Admiralty is kept closely in 623W touch at all the mercantile ports with shipmasters actually serving afloat. In these circumstances it is not considered necessary to adopt the suggestion made in the second part of the question.