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years or more, and that the whole condition of things may before then have changed. But the efficiency of a naval force must largely depend upon the maintenance of a good supply of officers, men who see before them the same prospect of high rank and honours that is enjoyed by officers of the Royal Navy, with whom for many years to come they must inevitably be serving.

It is because I cannot see any other mode of achieving this end that I advocate the adoption of a scheme which has been unofficially drawn up in the office of the Secretary to the Imperial Defence Committee, and which I have Sir Charles Ottley's permission to make use of.

He proposes that there shall be a common list of officers of all ranks for the whole Imperial Navy, on which the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the other Dominions shall be represented by numbers approximating to the needs of their naval forces.

The attached paper gives strong reasons for the adoption of the scheme, which is very attractive, though it may not be considered to be altogether in keeping with that exclusive control of the general administration of their naval forces" which the Commonwealth Government desires to exercise.

"

It is obvious that with one common list of officers of an Imperial fleet this must be 80. To take the case of the Lieutenants, of whom approximately 1,900 are needed for the Royal Navy and fifty for each Dominion Unit, the general working of the list must evidently be in the hands of the Admiralty. The question is how to give to the Commonwealth Government the largest possible share in the control.

It is assumed that the Government would expect--

(a.) To exercise absolute control over officers of the common list while serving in

their naval forces.

(b) To appoint officers to the ships of their forces, and to have a considerable share Clauses in their selection from the common list, specially of the senior officers (in the and 16 case of officers in command the selection, if a Commonwealth officer, to rest Naval entirely with them).

(c.) To share with the Admiralty the responsibility of selecting Australian officers

for promotion..

Further, it would have to be clearly understood that Australian officers should be given the first consideration for appointment to Australian ships, and that generally speaking the scheme should be so worked as to provide efficient Australian officers for Australian ships.

The adoption of such a scheme would necessitate a common form of commission, empowering an officer to serve in any ship of the Imperial fleet. Possibly, His Majesty would graciously consent to sign the first commission of each officer.

I have discussed the question from this point of view with Sir Charles Ottley and Captain Hankey, R,M.A. (Assistant Secretary to the Imperial Ddfence Committee, who has long been developing the idea of a common list of officers and discussing it with official and other Australians), and am of opinion that, although there are considerable difficulties in the way of the adoption of such a scheme, and that its solution would demand considerable concessions on both sides, the gain to the Imperial Naval Forces would be so great that it is well worth serious consideration.

The chief difficulties would be in regard to the appointment and promotion of officers, both vested by the Naval Defence Act in the Governor-General.

In

In regard to appointments, officers of tee Royal Navy, who alone for the next ten years will be available for Commonwealth ships, would be selected by the Admiraly, and sent out for appointment to ships by the Governor-General or Minister of Defence. the case of officers of high rank, the names would be submitted to the Commonwealth Government by telegraph before the final selection was made.

When officers entered under the new system by the Commonwealth become available on the common list, the Admiralty, before sending them out in response to a request that vacancies might be filled, would consult the Commonwealth Government by telegraph in regard to those whom they propose to send, and would attend to any request of the Commonwealth regarding them. The actual appointment to be made by the Governor-General or Minister of Defence.

It would probably be found convenient to maintain in a Commonwealth Naval Depôt a few supernumerary officers ready to fill vacancies.

The appointment of Commonwealth officers from one ship to another to be left entirely to the Commonwealth naval authorities.

The period of service of officers in Commonwealth ships to be regulated between

Defence Act. 1910.

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