§ Colonel DAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the objection held by the lower deck to the failure of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust to employ ex-service men in the office at Chatham; and whether, before it is decided to continue the contributions to this fund from the canteen rebate after 1st July next, he will arrange for a ballot of the officers and men to decide whether or no the canteen rebate shall continue to be paid to the Royal Naval Benevolent Fund?
Mr. DAVIDSONNo expression of Service feeling with regard to the employment of women clerks by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust has been brought officially to the notice of the Admiralty, but I am aware that statements on the subject have appeared in the Press. The matter is one for the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and not for the Admiralty. With regard to the second part of the question, orders have already been given with a view to ascertaining the opinions of petty officers and men of the Fleet on the question of continuing the present scheme of contributions to the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust. I may say that, 1327W in issuing this Order, the Admiralty also drew attention to the importance of the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust receiving regular and adequate financial support from the Service as a whole, and expressed a doubt as to whether any more equitable way than at present can be devised of ensuring that each unit does its fair share.