COAL FOR THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 9

COAL FOR THE NAVY.

PROPOSED DIIPOT AT ( AUCKLAND. " : (fiX TELEGRAHI —rRESS ASSOCIATION.) , Auckland; January' 7: " At a meeting of the Auckland Harbour' Board this afternoon, the" following motion' was moved by Mr. W. J. Napier:—"Thatthe'Board in committee consider the advisability of using tho powers vested in it by Section 11 of tho Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Act 1899, to establish a depot for tho storage of coal for tho use of His'. Majesty's' Navy." Mr. Napier said that it was over eight years since the Board thought it necessary to obtain power from"the. Legislature' to establish a depot for the storageT,of .'coal . for supply to tho Navy. .. It, was, .not'.desir- . able to do anything during a period' of "scare," but as the present time was ono of tranquillity, ho considered, it an opportune one for tfio exorcise of the powers conferred upon the Board in this matter by tho Act. Tno Board was now equipping . Calliope Dock, for tho use of the warships, but coal was tho breath of life of these .vessels. The dock would be quite useless 'to' the' Navy', unless they had as a corollary a.depot where " a sufficient supply of fresh,'coalcould, -be', obtained. In tho interests,, riot only of the port, but also of. those of : the ' Empire, it was very important that the question, of obtaining an adequate supply of Westport coal when required should not be left to tho private enterprise of Tom, Dick, and Harry . r Tho coal might be required in any emergency ; and the Board should see that it was avail- ! able. He referred to tho large stacks of cioal , kept in the American nav.al yards, and said , that tho Act passed in 1899 cast upon the j Board the duty of attonding to this matter, j placing it, as it now did, virtually in'tho ', position of the State.; Mr. A. Keyes sec- ' onded tho motion, which, aftor discussion, was carried. . I