COASTAL SURVEY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 193, 29 May 1934, Page 7

COASTAL SURVEY

OFFER BY THE ADMIRALTY.

LITTLE CHARGE TO DOMINION.

(Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 28.

Replying to a deputation representing the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors which waited upon him today, advancing the claims of New Zealand surveyors to assist in bringing the charts of the Dominion up to date, the Minister of Marine (the Hon. J. G. Cobbej indicated that the British Admiralty had offered to send out a ship in 1936 at little cost to New Zealand, but that so far Cabinet had not come to a decision.

Mr D. Dyett, who headed the deputation, said it would appear that the only up-to-date survey of the New Zealand coast extended from Poverty Bay to Hauraki Gulf, having been carried out by H.M.S. Penguin about 30 years ago, and that the rest of the coastline, about ,3000 miles, remained to be re-surveyed and re-charted, work that would take about 10 years and would engage a large personnel oyer that period. He denied the statement that there were no b qualified surveyors in New Zealand who coidd carry out the work. "We state'definitely," he said, "that all the land work, and possibly quite a considerable part of the sea .work, can be carried out by our qualified men, and further suggest that our qualified men are entitled to haye the oppprtunity of doing this work." , Replying, the Minister said that on several occasions in recent years. the necessity for a survey of the waters surrounding Ne,w Zealand had been stressed, but nothing had been done betcause of the expense involved. However the British Admiralty had indicated that a survey vessel would be available in 1936, and that it was proposed'to make a survey of the coastline here, provided the New Zealand Government bore the cost of refuelling and refitting the ship/ This was not expected to amount to a very large sum, and it was the opinion of the Government that the offer was very attractive. < ' The Minister said he did not know the conditions under which the proposed survey was to be undertaken, but he/thought it was'usual for the Admiralty to supply its own men. The question, however, would be gone into, although it had to be understood that the New Zealand Government could not dictate to the Admiralty. All the Government could do was to make a Suggestion, and he promised that the views- of the deputation would be taken into consideration. -::■:•■.