CO885-(16-18) — Page 727

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Thirteenth Day. 8 May 1907.

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Lord TWEEDMOUTH: I think I ought to say with regard to this question of manning that the number of men necessary for the British Navy must necessarily be limited. We cannot take in an unlimited number. At NAVAL DEFENCE. this moment should think we have at least six times as many applications from, men to enter the Navy as we can take in. Therefore, whatever, arrangement may be come to with regard to manning throughout the Empire, it would have to be understood that it must be limited, because beyond a certain limit we should not have any use for the men.

Dr., JAMESON: The rank and file-able-bodied seamen-six times as many as you want?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: I think I am putting it under the mark rather than over it in saying that.

Then I ought to say a word about the question of cadets. I think that in the Agreement of 1902 an arrangement was made by which there should be a certain number of cadets from each Colony. There were, I think, eight from Australia.

Mr. DEAKIN: You mean cadets coming into the Royal Navy to become officers.

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Yes. There were eight for Australia; two for New Zealand, two for the Cape; one for Natal; and two for other Colonies; a total of 15. I think the arrangement with regard to that has not been altogether understood. It has been imagined that the cadets were to be taken in anyhow. Really it only comes to this, that there are nominations given to that number of cadets, and then some of them are examined in Australia. Some come to schools in England and are examined here. So far as the Colonial cadets are concerned, I think it is only right for me to say that those who have been examined out in Australia are found not to be up to the standard of education which is prevalent amongst the same boys in England, and a good many have been rejected. I think the idea is that this number is given without consideration of the qualities of the boys, whereas in fact a good many boys have been rejected on examination.

Mr. DEAKIN: All this is news to me.

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Take 1903, for instance. In that year there were six Australian nominations-three passed and went in. In 1904 there were again six boys examined, and three passed into Osborne. In 1905 Australia sent eight, of whom two passed in. In 1906 five Australian cadets came up, of whom four passed in, and in this year I think four have come up, and one has passed in and one has not yet been examined. I do not think the system has been thoroughly understood. I think the idea has been that the nominations given were supposed to be absolute cadetships; whereas, they were only nominations to candidates in order to to go through the examinations, and so enter in the same way as the cadets who enter here.

Mr. DEAKIN: No complaints have reached me.

Sir JOSEPH WARD: You have had nominations from New Zealand also.

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Yes, from New Zealand in 1903; one entered and one passed; in 1904 two entered, of whom none passed; in 1905 two

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entered and nono passed; in 1906 one entered and one passed; and this year Thirteenth Day. one entered and one passed,

8 May 1907.

Sir JOSEPH WARD: I understand there is a limit to the number NAVAL DEFENCE. which you are allowed to nominate in any case?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Yes; two from New Zealand in a year, and they are examined. A special examiner is appointed to examine them out there; or else they come here, and they are examined in the ordinary way.

Sir JOSEPH WARD: How many do you allow from each of the other countries that are allowed to nominate in one year?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Eight for Australia, two for New Zealand, two for Cape Colony, and one for Natal; and the other Colonies two. Canada was not included in the original agreement, and those two were left for the Dominion and the other Colonies.

Dr. JAMESON: When does that wholesale ploughing take place—at the original entry or at any other time?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Before they go in at all.

Dr. JAMESON: Simply on general knowledge examination ?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: Yes.

Mr. F. R. MOOR: Are the examinations here, or in the Colonies?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: The examinations are held either in the Colony itself, or some boys come over here and go to school here, and then afterwards are examined. I ought to say that, as a rule, we have about three times as many candidates for these examinations as we can take; that is, about 200 come up, and 70 are taken. I think an idea has got about that the Colonial Cadets are entitled to come in They are only entitled to come in provided they pass tests similar to those imposed on boys from this country.

Dr. JAMESON: I think it is always acknowledged it is merely a nomination, and they have to pass. Is the South African black list as bad as you have just read?`

Sir JOSEPH WARD: That idea is not prevalent in New Zealand. There is no misconception as to the conditions.

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: I am glad to hear that, and that is why I mentioned it to-day. From the Cape, one entered in 1903, and one passed; in 1904, there were two entered, and they were both unsuccessful; in 1905, two went in, and two passed; and in 1906, one entered, but he appeared before the Interview Committee here and was not rated sufficiently high to be taken.

Dr. JAMESON: That is physically?

Lord TWEEDMOUTH: No. In 1907, one has entered but he has not yet been interviewed.

(Lord Tweed-

mouth.)