The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-26 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARDS.

On the motion for going into committee of supply on the
Naval Supplementary Estimates,
Mr. SEELY called the attention of the House to the
general administration and to the accounts of her Majesty's
dockyards, and the two returns, Nos. 465 and 465 1, dated
the 4th day of July, 1865, and moved the following reso-
lutions :—" 1. That the course pursued in paving the road-
ways, workshops, and other places in the dockyards with
iron ballast was inexpedient. 2. That anchors are pro-
vided for the use of her Majesty's navy without a due re-
gard to economy. 3. That the manner in which the affairs
of the dockyards have been managed in these and other re-
spects renders it desirable that the superintendents should
be possessed of a practical knowledge of the business car-
ried on therein, and that it is also desirable that their term
of office should not be limited to a terra of 5 years." The hon.
member then entered into details to prove that the expen-
diture on the vessels constructed and repaired in the Go-
vernment dockyards was extravagant. That statement
of things was not denied by the late Admiralty authorities,
but they promised to remedy it ; yet ho did not see any dis-
position on their part while in office to make any improve-
ments in the existing system. Ho thought that there should
be something on the face of Government accounts
to show exactly the financial position in which
the Government works were, which desideratum
was not supplied under the present system. He
trusted that, as there was a transfer of authority on the
part of the Admiralty, that the present First Lord of that
important department of the public service (Sir J. Peking-
ton) would introduce those alterations in the accounts
which would represent the actual position of the naval
Government works, and which had been adopted in a
sister department of the public service. He instituted a
comparison between the manner in which Government
works were carried out in the dockyards and by indi-
vidual enterprite, which was much in favour of the
latter both as to economy and efficiency. He then-
described the inaccuracies in which the military accounts
were kept, which exhibited clearly the position in which
that branch of the public service was placed, and he could
not understand why a similar system of accounts should not
be introduced in the naval department of the public ser-
vice. He referred to the fact that a vessel called the
Frederick William had been constructed in one of the
Government dockyards last year at an excess of £147,000
more than she could be built for in a private dockyard.
The hon. member then proceeded to contend that the de-
fects in the Government works of the naval department
were so glaring that they were actually disgraceful. He
referred to the construction of the anchors manufactured
in the Government works, and called the authority of
Captain Sullivan and other competent persons to show
that they were much inferior to those produced by private
manufacturers. He said that the personal and practical
supervision which was carried out in private estab-
lishments was wanting in the Government dockyards,
and until that was supplied there would be a most serious
requirement in the public service which was disreputable
to a great maritime country like England. (Hear.) He read
extracts from letters from American and naval officers with
a view to confirm his statement as to the inefficiency of
the naval department of the public service so far as related
to the operations of tho dockyards.
Sir J. PAKINGTON said that he made no complaint of
the manner in which the last speaker had brought the
subject before the house, and he only regretted that
his present tenure of office was too brief to enable him
to follow the hon. gentleman through all the details into
which he had entered. He considered that the house and
the country were indebted to the hon. member (Mr. Seely)
for the speech which he had just delivered, and which, in
the materials of which it was composed, necessarily in-
volved a large amount of labour on the part of the hon.
gentleman. He took exceptions to some of the statementse
of the hon. gentleman, for instance, such as payieglccleceobslt.
for repairs of a boat to what its construction would
He thought there must be a good
i mis-
n
nndererssptaenndt intgn othnintheaupdart
for he
had made in the course of his observations,otohferthestahtoemnoeundrtaesbeivhniiomber
as top ermit
considered that no branch of the
be so neglectful of their duty
ith thegentleman
mentioned. He certainly agreed
°int. Ho believed that the
private
ectuhtei Anomalies wei l d
thatsels
ag.te,etvdhsoted
deficiencies
co
iveenrcni
ems out accounts .
the
Gwnerveersnumsceenpttiwbleenlodf
werefieme_p.o built
of
iron
made
in
e
It was in consequence of
docks with a view to e.coosiy
made of wood that contracts
the vessels being
public service which
„, d in their construction required the
given to,PAvviate shipbuilders, for the quality of
°its selection. He would make in-
,gitihri were not
to the sale of refuse
reference in to some
alleged into.
.a questionsrtteo
wood employed
brought before the house by the e
hon.
member, and
iron and the construction of anchors in the Government
hpetihin--e:fseerredp
docks.
Mr. WATKINS expressed his hope that the right hon.
baronet (Sir J. Pakington) would introduce all the im-
provements that were necessary to
1r vsmtei:n. e d u:r e P
havingcc t
give efficiency to the
workingm r
rr
.o f
Gt
.h eBGAoRvIeNr Government ednetf
ednodcekdy dockyards.
Ids.
system adopted by
successive Administrations in respect to naval matters, and
denied that that system was open to the exceptions taken
ebnyt
etrheed hon.rote
se
memberveral details(M (Mr Seely).
Thea
view to show that
hon, gentleman
there was no ground for imputing neglect to the execu-
tive, who had been entrusted of late years with the admi-
nistration of naval affairs. He denied that there was any
fairness in the comparison which had been made by the
hon. member (Mr. Seely) as regarded the relative cost of
works produced in private and Government dockyards,
because the articles were different. He ridiculed the idea
of any parsimonious spirit being resorted to in the regu-

lation of the Government dockyards or other military esta-
blishments of the country.
Col. SYKES congratulated the hon. member (Mr.
Seely) on the industry and ability he had displayed in re-
ference to this subject, and was glad that the hon. member
seemed disposed to follow in a particular department the
footsteps of the late Mr. Joseph Hume, who at present had
no successor in the house. The arrangement adopted in
the naval department in France was superior to that in
our own country, and the expenditure was clearly shown.
Mr. SA.MUDA expressed his approval of the views of
the hon. member who had brought the subject before the
house (Mr. Seely) in a speech of considerable ability.
What they required in the department of the Govern-
ment dockyards was a simplification of the accounts, such
as was adopted in private establishments, which enabled a
person at once to see his financial position. He referred to
matters which had come under his own observation in his
business experience, to . show that a great improvement
was necessary in the manapment of the Government
dockyards.
After somo discussion in which Mr. Childers, Mr.
M'Laren, and Mr. Henley took part,
Mr. SEELY withdrew his amendment.

The house then suspended
.the sitting until 6 o'clock,
when it resumed.

[LEFT SITTING.I

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. —This Day.

SOUTHAMPTON RACES—THIS DAY.
LEY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.'
The CORPORATION PLATE of 50 sovs (Handicap), for all
ages; winners after July 19 (at ten a.m.) 51b extra;
T.Y.C.
Mrs. Day (a. Day) 1
Salliet (Custance) 2
Signet (Sadler) ?,‘
Menace, Masson, Lancashire Witch, and Vexatious atso
ran. Won by three lengths.

The STEWARDS' STAKES of 5 sovs each, with 40 added, for
2-yr-olds ; colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst 41b; the winner to be
sold for 200 sous; if for 100 allowed 71b; if not to be
sold to carry 51b extra ; last half mile.
Duchess .. (Fordham)
Misfortune (Custance) 2
Dulcibella f (Maidment) 3
Pakida and Bravura also ran. Betting-5 to 4 on, Mio_
fortune, sto 1 agst Duchess, Bto 1 agst Bravura. Won
by a length and a half ; bad third.
The SOUTHAMPTON STAKES (Handicap) of 10 sovs each,
h ft, with 50 added ; winners of any race of the value of
100 sovs after July 19 (at ten a.m.) 71b extra; one mile
and a half ; 9 subs.
Old Warden 1
Pro visor ,•
Ropley 3
_ _

The STONEHAM PARK STAKES Of 10 SOVS each, h ft, with
50 added if three horses start, for two year olds ; colts
Bst 101 b, fillies, Bst 71b ; winners once 41b, twice 71b
extra; T.Y.C., straight; 16 subs.
Lady Hester
Lupa 2
Hornet .............................................. .
- -

The STAND PLATE of 50 sous, added to a Handicap of 5 sovs
each, 2 ft (to the fund), for all ages ; winners after July
19 (at ten a.m.) 71b extra ; T.Y.C. ; 16 subs.
Signet ................................................................ 1
Menace ................................................................. 2
Seven ran.

BETTING ON THE COURSE.
GOODWOOD STAKES.
sto 1 agst Medea colt (taken)
Bto 1 agst Black Prince (taken)

HUNTINGDON RACES:—THIs DAY.

The CAMBRIDGESHIRE Two-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP of 5
sovs each, with 50 added; the winner to be sold for 50
sovs ; half a mile straight ; 14 subs.
Mr. Pryor's Princess Thyra. (L Oates) 1
Prince D. Soltykoff 's Delium (Mann) 2
Mr. J. Nightingall's Ambitious (Elphick) 3
Piano, Stud, and Scarlet also ran. Betting-6 to 4 agst
Princess Thyra, 4 to 1 agst others. Won by three lengths;
half a length between second and third.
The MEMBERS' PLATE of 100 SON'S added to a Handicap
Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, 3 ft to go to the Race-fund,
for horses of all ages. Any winner after the publication
of the weights (July 19, at 10 a.m.) to carry 51b extra;
three-quarters of a mile. (22 subs.)

Seringapatam 1
British Tar 2
Arbutus
Seven ran.

The HUNTINGDONSHIRE STAKES of 100 SOTS added to a
Handicap Sweepstakes of 15 sovs each, 5 ft and 3 only if
declared on or before the 17th July; the second horse
to save his stake ; the winner of any handicap after the
publication of the weights (July 13, at 10 a.m.) to carry
71b extra; two miles. (46 subs, 27 of whom pay 3 sovs
each.) The highest weight accepting being Bst 71b, it
has been raised to Bst 121 b, and the rest in proportion.

Oberon 1
King Charming 2
Duchess of Wellington 3
Ten ran.

The HINCHINGBROOK STAKES of 15 sovs each, 5 ft, with
100 added, for two year olds ; colts Bst 101 b, fillies Bst 61b;
a winner of 50 sovs 31b, of two fifties or 100 soya, 51b, of
200 71b extra; maidens at the time of starting, if they
have run once, allowed 41b, twice 51b, thrice or more 71b
extra; T.Y.C. (about half a mile straight) ; 32 subs.
King Victor
Oppoponax . 2
Lady Clinton
Won by a head. Seven ran.
The KIMBOLTON CUP, a silver Cup value 50 sovs, added to
a Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, hft ; three-year-olds Bst,
four 9st, five and upwards 9st 51b ; the winner to be
sold for 500 sous; if entered for 100 sovs allowed 71b, if
entered not to be sold 71b extra ; mares and geldings
allowed 31b; one mile. To close and name by nine
o'clock on Wednesday night.
Vespasian
Ostregor
Merry Hart 3
Won by a head. Six ran.
The CROMWELL PLATE of 100 sovs (Handicap) ; winners
of any handicap after July 19 (at ten a.m.) 51b extra ;
half a mile.
Tesane 1

Blackthorn
Norma

•
Twelve ran. Won by three lengths
The FrrzwILLIAM SELLING STAKES of 5 sovs each, with
50 added ; two-year-olds 7st 31b, three Oat 31b, four lOst,
five, six, and aged lOst 411; mares and geldings allowed
31b ; the winner to be sold for 100 sovs, but if entered
for 80 sons allowed 71b, 60 121 b, 50 161 b, 30 211 b; three
quarters of a mile.
Rosa Nara 1

Hopbine 2
Practitioner 3