Mr Bertram Falle: May I ask if that also applies to a third and fourth?
Mr Bertram Falle: Is it possible for my right hon. Friend to grant a preliminary sum now instead of waiting for a final distribution?
Mr Bertram Falle: 16. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the names of the members of the Court of Inquiry which decided the case of Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne; if he can give the name or names of the signatories; and if he can say why Sir Berkeley Milne was not given a court-martial as in the case of his second in command, Admiral Troubridge?
Mr Bertram Falle: 21. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can now make any statement as to the financial position of the kept-on and the pensioned naval officer?
Mr Bertram Falle: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is a most burning question and can on no account brook delay; it is a matter that must be settled? May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, if the right hon. Gentleman cannot give me an answer, whether I may, at the close of questions, ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House on a matter of public urgency?
Mr Bertram Falle: 28. asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if, seeing that the division of prize money may take a considerable period, he will consider the granting of preliminary sums of such prize money in the immediate future?
Mr Bertram Falle: 29. asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can give the reason why captains and engineer-captains, Royal Navy, of under three years' seniority and under three years' service in that rank, should be placed below deputy surgeon-generals, admirals' secretaries, chief naval instructors, and pay masters-in-chief in the matter of gratuity; and if he can have the matter amended?
Mr Bertram Falle: 20. asked the President of the Board of Trade if, owing to the over-valuation of sheep in Areas 13 and 13a, many costing considerably over retail maximum prices, also over-valuation of skins, and there being no redress forthcoming, the Portsmouth Retail Butchers' Committee have decided to refuse to take sheep from these areas otherwise than on the dead weight; and that the committee demand...
Mr Bertram Falle: 80. asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if the pension awarded to an officer of the Royal Navy and that awarded a member of the lower deck is exactly on the same footing, and if both are viewed as earned or deferred pay?
Mr Bertram Falle: 4. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can make any arrangement for the early demobilisation of apprentices of His Majesty's dockyard; and if he can make any statement as to the position of these men on returning to the dockyard?
Mr Bertram Falle: Does the answer apply to apprentices who went out in 1914?
Mr Bertram Falle: 14. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state why Leading Seaman Tuck, No. 225535, H.M.S. "Viscount," Queens-ferry, a time-expired man, is being detained in the Service, seeing that he was made a slip man by the Ministry of Labour on the 29th January last, and the declaration was forwarded to the naval authorities, H.M.S. "Blake"?
Mr Bertram Falle: 22. asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he can state if those dockyard men who volunteered for service at Mudros, Gibraltar, or home ports will receive any badge or decoration for their services?
Mr Bertram Falle: 23. asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that captains and engineer-captains of the Royal Navy of under three years' service in that rank are placed under deputy surgeon-generals, admirals' secretaries, chief naval instructors, and paymasters-in-chief in the matter of the gratuity, although these officers are all equal in rank up to the day they are promoted to captain; and if...
Mr Bertram Falle: Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me why it is thought necessary to follow the junior Service instead of the senior Service in dealing with seniority in the Navy?
Mr Bertram Falle: May I ask if it is still possible for Admiral Sir Berkeley Milne to demand a court-martial?
Mr Bertram Falle: Why?
Mr Bertram Falle: It is the same with the other dockyard Members.
Mr Bertram Falle: I am not a very old Member of the House but I have heard a good many opening speeches from First Lords of the Admiralty, and I have never heard one that pleased me more or the matter of which was more clearly put. The right hon. Gentleman told us that the story we had heard of the Navy was the most wonderful ever told, and it was one of magnificent loyalty and splendid efficiency. We would...
Mr Bertram Falle: Even with this treatment there has been not a grumble, not a syllable, not a breath of indiscipline or remonstrance from these men. It is the old story of the bullfinch and the parrot. The bullfinch sang his song sweetly in tune and beautifully, as was expected of him, but he was neglected and starved to death. The parrot was wiser. He shrieked, and yelled, and cursed, and bit, and attention...