SEA TRAINING

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 6

SEA TRAINING

AMOKLTtA SCRAPPED. (By Telegraph.—T'nriinnipiitarv Reporter.* WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Prime Minister was asked by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) to-day if it is a fact that the Government has abolished the training system for the mercantile marine, and was doing away with the Amokura. If so, he suggested it was a serious anu foolish step. Possibly it was being done in the interests of economy to make up the .€IB,OOO spent uselessly on the Philomel. He also wished to know if it were intended to sell the GoVernnient steamer Hinemoa. Mr. Massey replied: It is proposed to sell the Hinemoa and utilise the Tutanekai for lighthouse work. He was informed that the Araoktipra was unfit to go to sea again, and the Government would not take any risks. There were a number of boys whose training period was not completed, and it was intended to Jwep the Mp until their time was up. In the meantime the Government might get another training ship, though an officer sent Home to selert a suitable ship found that the cost of conversion was too hPavy. Reports on the Philoni?l sho'.ved the vessel was dornc; good work in naval training, and could steam ten knots, and was quite seaworthy.

Sir R. H. Rhodes deni"d that the Philomel* shafts had not been drawn since 11)15. The vessel was quite fit to go to sea. and the practice was that when no other warships were en the New Zealand coa-it. it was in readiness to steam. On other occasions naval training proceeded. The Philomel was far from useless, nnd the opinion of a well-known Admiral who reported on thp naval defence of Ne»v /ert'and was quite different from tliat of thp LeR'W cf the Opposition in regard to the Philomel. He preferred to accept the Admiral's statement.