SEA TRAINING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14232, 21 December 1911, Page 4

SEA TRAINING.

! . A -. j NEW ZEALANDERS FOR THE NAVY. PROPOSALS OF~NAVY LEAGUE. Tho Canterbury branch of the Navy League has discussed, at different )K>riods, the desirableness of making provision, in addition to that supplied by the Amokura, for training young New Zcalanders for the British Navy. Tho League's discussions solidified into a proposal for tho establishment of a bargo on the river Avon, on board which a certain amount of preliminary training could be given and suggestions for raising the amount necessary to give effect to the proposal wero yesterday placed before a meeting of ladies who entered with much heartiness into the project. Professor Blunt, president of tho branch, was in the chair, and amongst apologies for absenco received he read a letter from Professor Haslam, who wrote: —"I have always advocated the establishment of a school of sea-training as a chief object of the League's efforts. Even if we cannot get a barge such a school can be carried on, to a great extent, on land. Years ago, when Mr Bishop, S.M., was appointed a commissioner to enquire into tho conduct of the Burnham institution, he very strongly recommended the formation of such a school for the Burnham boys as part of their treatment. But the Go- ! vernment took no notice of this rccom- ; mendation, though its advantages must bo clear to everybody." Professor Blunt said that he did not think he was exaggerating in saying tliat in no country in the Empire were the interests and knowledge of the British Navy being propagated with so much vigour as in New Zealand. In spite of what had been done in the Dominion in an unassuming and unpretentious way. they felt that a certain amount more should bo done, and that tho best way to bring tho objects of the ; League beforo tho people and to enlist their interest in its work, was to give them something—such as a training i barge—so that they could see in what direction th© funds subscribed by them | wero used. After referring to the great j impetus given in England recently to ' tho training of boys for the navy * and tho mercantile marine, Professor* Blunt briefly outlined the Leaguo's scheme. Ho spoke in terms of praise of the excellent work done on the Amokura, and said that tho League desired to support and supplement that work. It was pro,- , posed to provido a barge, havo it rigged, put it on tho river at some point nearer tho city tlian the sea, and havo an instructor on board. The idea was to encourage boys who possessed some idea of taking to the sea, and who would spend half-holidays and week-ends on the barge receiving elementary instruction. The rough estimate of the oost of the barge was £200; tho instructor's salary would bo £100 nor annum, and contingencies were es- , at from £25 to £50 per annum. .To keep tho- barge going for fivo years j about £1000 was required, and that "was j tho amount tho League wished to raise by means of a combined fair and exhiaS. n to k° neld ' n November next. Iho Rev. E. Eliot Chambers spoke at some length on the necessity for tho | la<ls of the Dominion receiving seatraining, and in this respect stressed j tho point that New Zealand must ; rely on the British Navy for its defence Tho sailor, he said, must defend Great Britain, and ho must also defend Ivew Zealand, and to keep the Navy efficiently manned it was necessary to keep it supplied with youths who were caught early, and given the necessary physical and technical training. Ho suggested that an endeavour should bo made to get ladies interested in tho fair and exhibition, and to guarantee £10 each, in cash or kind toi wards it. J Mr C J. Treleaven, secretary of tho I League, outlined tho character of tho I proposed fair and -xhibition, and en j Ins motion, seconded by Mr F. D. S. j Neave, it was agreed:—-"That thia t meeting affirms the principle of the I holding of a combined fair and exhibition by the Navy League, with tho object of establishing a training for tho preliminary training of youths j for tho sea." j Six of those present undertook to guarantee £10 each towards the goods ;. for tho stalls. ! It was further decided that all tho j members of tho Lcaguo present should form tho nucleus of a General Com--1 mittee (with power to add to their j number), that the General Committee ; should meet on February 14th, 1912, jto go into detads, and that, in.--tho meantime, efforts bo made to ascertain how many were willing to guarantee at least £10 in cash or kind for the . stalls. j After-partaking of afternoon tea the meeting closed.