§ Sir R. Aclandasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why permission for Chief Petty Officer Foster to contest the Portsmouth by-election was delayed from 1st January to 21st January or thereabouts; and whether he can give an assurance that on future similar occasions, irrespective of the possibility or impossibility of granting leave of absence to the prospective candidate, the permission to contest the election will be either granted or definitely refused in a much shorter period?
§ Captain PilkingtonI regret that some delay occurred in dealing with Chief Petty Officer Foster's application. Instructions are being issued that such applications are in future to be dealt with by telegraph.