Pensioners from the Royal Navy & Marines.

The case of pensioners from the Royal Navy and Marines is much the same as that of pensioners from the Army.

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With a very few exceptions, sailors join the Navy as boys between the ages of 15 and 16½ Their time begins to count towards pension at the age of 18, and they serve 22 years from that age to qualify; that is, they become entitled to pension at 40 years of age.

Their pensions vary from £18 to £54 a year, but very few are so low as £18; the average is said to be about £30.

Under these circumstances, we do not see any reason against commuting £10.

On the basis of Bank Annuities, at age of 40, £5 19s. 4d. per annum would produce £102.

Therefore, £1 would produce about £17, and £10 would produce about £170. This would leave the lowest pensioner only £8 a year, but men really fitted for Colonization would undoubtedly have more. £178 in the first year would meet all requirements, which would be precisely the same as given for soldiers.

The proceedings for commuting would be much the same as in the army.

The man would have to apply and sign necessary documents a given time before discharge, which documents would be forwarded by the Officer commanding the ship from which he was to be discharged, to the Naval Pension Department, who would forward to Colonial Office, as in case of Army pensioners.

The man would have to be kept on his own ship or a guard ship pending completion of transaction and date of his sailing for the Colony.

It is probable that, as a sailor, a man's passage money might be lowered in consideration of his services, but this would be a matter for arrangement.

Sailors already pensioned, like soldiers in a similar position, would have to arrange through their District Pension Officer.

All men, whether soldiers or sailors, discharged—or time expired abroad—should have the option of either returning to England or going straight to the Colony they select. This would not cost the country anything, and might save the men their passage money out to the Colony. If they choose to go to Colony direct, their families, if not sent out free, would be sent out to them with proceeds of commuted pension.