THE TOT OF RUM.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18369, 30 April 1925, Page 7

THE TOT OF RUM.

SHOULD IT BE ABOLISHED? ' (FEOII oua OWN COBBXSPONMNT.) • LONDON, March 25. During the debate on the Navy Estimates in"the House of Commons, reference was made to the rum ration served to the men on board his Majesty's ships Mr Pethick Lawrence, Labour M.P., had moved an amendment embodying the idea of greater facility for the rectification of grievances on the part of the men. He went on to Bay. that compulsory attendance at Divine service, wfiich' was contrary to the spirit of the age, should be removed, and seamen should have the same political rights as other citizens. There was also a desire that the rum. ration, if it was'to be given, should be given in the evening, and not in the middle of. the day, as at present. (Lady Aster: "A lot of them do not want it at all 0 There should be a ladder of promotion from the' lowest to the highest ranks, and compulsory service on submarines, which had been in force only since this Government came into office, should be ! abolished. , I Mr Groves (Labour, Stratford), wno said that he had never been to sea and had never seen a battleship, seconded the amendment. As a life abstainer, but riot a prohibitionist, he wanted to see a greater development of the inducement to the men to do without the rum Mr Davidson (Financial Secretary to the Admiralty) said it was true that the rum tot was in the majority of cases served out at the midday meal, but if there was a general desire expressed, and arrangements could be made it might be given out at another time. The | men could draw 3d in place of the mm, and this. was taken advantage of by about 35 per cent, of them. Lady Astor interposed to say that the ram was not at ail necessary, and was J a . temptation to some men. There should be a bit of the '-"Nelson touch' still left in the Navy to enable the Admiralty' to give a lead in the matter and stop-the rum-tot. (Laughter.) , Mr Dayjdson could not accept that view. He regarded certain privileges as' precious, and one of them was the right to choose what to eat and drink. It should not be made compulsory to J drink water any • more than beer, j (Laughter.)