Mr. David Adamsasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why all compass makers have not yet been supplied with the requisite information to enable them to adapt their binnacles to receive the heeling error coils provided by the Admiralty for new ships nearing completion; and why this information has been given to three compass makers only, who are thus placed in a privileged position?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe implication in the first part of the Question is incorrect; the normal practice is to design heeling error coils to suit the type of binnacle, not to adapt the binnacle to suit a standard coil. There are thus many forms of coil. The British Nautical Instrument Trade Association were informed some months ago that the Admiralty would give firms all possible assistance in designing heeling error coils for their own particular makes of binnacle. In addition, the Association has been informed that the Admiralty will design a coil for any binnacle, provided a specimen binnacle is made608W available. It is still open to firms to accept this offer, but only three have so far taken advantage of it.