"MEN==NOT MONEY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1231, 13 September 1911, Page 4

"MEN==NOT MONEY."

THE "KING'S NAVEE." NEW ZEALAND RESEDVISTS. INTERESTING PROPOSAL. An interesting discussion tool; place at the Navy League Conference yesterday on the subject of tho Royal Naval Reserve, and the suggestion of a delegate from the Tiniaru branch of the League- (Mr. G. N. G. Arbor) that a New Zealand Naval Reserve should bo organised. Tho discussion was it fairly lengthy one, du* to tho circumstance that the conference dealt first with general principles, and later with suggestions for giving effect to these principles;

Men, Not Money. At (lie outset, Mr. Arbcr said that it was a matter for regret'among the naval authorities that tho men of tho Royal Naval Reserve, after fivo years' training, and attaining a desirable degree of efficiency, should leave the service- and proceed to take up various avocations on shore. He thought that that was a groat and regrettable waste of energy. The Dominion's contribution to tho Imperial Navy was after all a mere flea-bite, and ho thought that tho bonds of unity would be belter strengthened, and tho sentiments of Imperial patriotism better fostered, by the formation of a New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve—a contribution in human flesh and blood, so to speak, There was no element of compulsion about his scheme. While he believed in compulsory training on land, he did not bchevo in compulsory training at sea. Compulsory Naval Training. Mr. W. J. Napier (Auckland) referred to the old-time corps of naval volunteers in New Zealand, now garrison artillery units. That corps of naval volunteers was, he considered, a valuable nucleus upon which to build a royal naval reserve. The principle of the notion, he argued, was clear and beyond criticism. The navy wanted men, not money. What ho had in his mind was that a certain percentage, say 10 per cent., of the men eligible for compulsory military training in the laud forces of tho Dominion should be given sea-training to fit them for service- in tho naval reserve. The sea training home at Auckland had been closed, some time ago, in tho face of public opinion, and he thought that the conforr once should ascertain why it was closed. He regarded it as a principle in colonial defence that the training of the forces of a dominion should not be confined to tho land. New Zealand might have to be defended in th« North Sea or Samoa, and it was right that a percentage of the men of the country should be available for assistance to tne Imperial forces in these waters, should the necessity arise. In Auckland about 2000 3 - oung men were yachtsmen; there were about 500 fishermen in Auckland; here, ho said, w'as splendid material for the creation of such an organisation for training as he' would like to see established. Mr. W. Eraser, M.P., gathered that what was sought to bo established in terms of the motion; was an organisation for training men for service in tho navy somewhat different, and ho presumed something better than the present system of training the reserve men on H.M. drill ships. He objected to any suggestion which would involvo tho freeing of anyone from tho obligations of compulsory training. If training at sea were to bo accepted as optional' to the compulsory course of training on land, it w;ould ro» quiro to bo compulsory in principle.

Mr. James Allen's Views. Mr. James Allen, M.P., said that Mr. Napier's views seemed to him to indicate a desiro (hat a certain pcrccntago of tho youth of New Zealand, say, 10 per cent, should be trained in II.M. ships. Mr. Arbor's ideas took rather tho shapo of a suggestion that the present members of tho Royal Naval Reserve, should not bo lost sight of after they had completed their course of training which was rather ai different proposition. Tho principle of training a New Zealand Royal Navy Reserve he approved of. What seemed to bo required was some encouragement for such officers and men of tho mercantile marine who desired to train for tho Royal Naval Reserve. Ho thought that they ought to go further and consider tho question of making provision for stokers being also registered for the reserve. Tho Rev. 10. E. Chambers contended that the proposal to establish a New Zealand Royal Naval Reservo assumed, in effect, the oxistcuco of something which wo did not possess in New Zealand. Thero being no New Zealand Royal Navy, thero could hardly bo created a New Zealand Royal Navy Reserve. Again, Mr. Napier's suggestion that 10 per cent of tho youths should bo given sea-training was rather a tall order. In his opinion 10 per cent' was too high. It would bo a terrific jump from the 01' men who at present constituted the Royal Naval Reservist Corps in New Zealand. The Admiralty's system lor tho training of the Royal Naval Reservists in New Zealand was based on 120 men who were paid at New. Zealand rates, double those paid to the Imperial men. It spoke volumes, ho said for the petty officers of H.M. ships, who trained these men, that they carried out their duties na instructors of men who were actually getting twice their pay. What ho wanted to seo was a system of registration which would iu effect ensure theso men being available for service in a time of emergency. No Landlubbers Wanted. The speaker pointed out that men would not bo received on 11.M. ships for training under such a system as was suggested unless they had a ticket—wore seaiariug men. The ordinary "chopper of wood, and hewer of water" would not bo eligible for such a course. A man was required to know which end of a ship went first, and what tho after funnel was for, (Laughter.) Tho Consensus of Opinion. Several motions and amendments wers proposed, nud eventually tho opinions of tho delcgatas resolved themselves into tho following points of agreement, which will be submitted to tho I'rimo Minister by a deputation this afternoon:— "That this conference of tho Navy League desires to point out to the Government of New Zealand tho advisability of organising the seafaring population of the country into a permanent trained force of naval reservists, and suggests that this forco bo formed from—(n)thoso men who havo put in a period of fivo years training in one of H.M. ships; that oncouragemont should be given both to ofli. ccrs and men of the mercantile marina to undergo an annual training in his Majesty's vessels with tho object of their becoming members of tho Naval Reserve; that it is advisable to register stokers living in New Zealand who aro serving or have served in the mercantile marine, and who would be willing to servo the Navy in caso of need; that it is now necessary to lay the foundations of a great seafaring population by affurding additional sea-training facilities, and giving encouragement to at least those of tho youth of tho Dominion who desire it; that a drill shin larger thau the Amokura be procured; that in order to give effect to tho above resolutions, Section 2G of tho Defence Act, 1309, be amended accordingfr"