The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-08-07 00:00:00

TRAINING OF CADETS.

The first Order of the Day was in Supply, in which there
remain 45 Estimates to be voted. Before going into Com-
mittee, the House was detained by the discussion of a num-
ber of topics more or less relevant to the Estimates. In tbe
first place, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, who was supported by Mr.
Lowe and Mr. Goschen, attacked the Admiralty sharply on
account of its proposal to abandon the system of competitive
examination for admisslon to the Training College of Naval
Cadets. This, it was contended, was a return to the old
system of patronage, with all its evils, and Mr. Shaw
Lefevre moved a Resolution declaring the change inexpe-
dient. Mr. Reed and Sir I. Acland also spoke on the same
side, and in reply it was urged by Mr. limit and Mr. A.
Egerton that the change had been made in consequence of
the RTort of a Committee that the Cadets affected were
only boys of twelve years, and that patronage would be
diminished, inasmuch as only one nomination was given for
each vacancy. Sir J. Hay also opposed the motion, and on
a Division it was negatived by li3 to 76.

SUPPLY.

The House then went nto.Committee of Supply.

A Vote of £440,000 for improving the position of the War
rant Officers was agreed to, and sir. Runt next explained
the details of a new scheme of Promotion and Retirement
for relieving the stagnation of Promotion, on Recount of
which a vote of £1,3 ;0 is asked this year. By this seven
Captains are to be promoted annually to the Flag List,
with this condition—that the number of Admirals is not
to exceed 68. The Captains' List is to be temporarily
maintained at 175, with from 12 to 15 promotions
annually from the Commanders ; and the Commanders'
List is to be kept at 2.25, with from 20 to 25
promotions from the Lieutenants' List. The age of optional
retirement for Admirals and Captains is to be advanced by
five years, limiting the retirements to three Admirals and six
Captains annually, unless on special grounds. This scheme
was discus,ed at some length, and was generally approved,
but an unanimous desire was expressed that something
should also be done to quicken the promotion in the Royal
Marines.

On the vote of £1,200,000 for the dockyards, Mr. Shaw
Lefevre entered into a minute and hostile criticism of the •
work done in the dockyards during the last year; and Sir
J. Hay recriminated with a review of the shortcomings of
the late Government. Mr. Goschen followed in the same
strain, and Mr. Hunt Justified the "complacency" with
which he had been reproached by declaring that he had good
cause for it, and that the Navy was now in a much more satis-
factory state, though he gave Mr. Goschen credit for having
Commenced the stremithening of the fleet. Mr. Satnuda de-
precated this self-laudation on the two front benches, after
which Mr. Samuda himself, followed by Mr. Reed, Lord C.
Beresford. Mr. Whalley, and Mr. Gorst, discussed the de-
tails of the scheme. Mr. Bentinck again indulged in his
gloomy vaticinations on the state of the Navy ; and Dr.
Kenealy detained an impatient House for some time by a
speech, twice pronounced by the Chairman to be irregular,
In which he strove to prove to Mr. Bentinck that we are in
no immediate danger of being involved in a war.
The Vote for New Works included the Vote for the New
College at Dartmouth, and on Mr. Edwards rising to pro-
pose the omission of this item, Mr. Hunt withdrew it,
leaving over the settlement of the question of the site until
next ear. The other Naval Votes, and the Vote for Green-
wich Hospitar, were, also agreed to.

The British Museum Vote (82,276) was also agreed to.
The other business was disposed of, and the House ad-
journed, at twenty minutes past two o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF CoIIMONS, August 4, in reply to Mr.
Downing, Sir M. Hicks•iteach said it was not his intention
to legislate on the subject of labourers' dwellings in Ireland
next session.
A discussion followed on the Public Finances, which was
introduced by Mr. Dodson, and after a lengthened explana-
tion from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which induced
some remarks from Mr. Gladstone, the subject dropped.