OUR ONLY GUNBOAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 6

OUR ONLY GUNBOAT.

IS SHE SUITABLE? PKIME MINISTEB AND NAVY LEAGUE. Our only gunboat—tho New Zealand Navy in fact—was tho subject of some adverse criticism by speakers at the Navy League Conference yesterday afternoon. These speeches wore made during tho courfc of an interview with the Primo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) with regard to tho various matters upon which tho Navy League Conferenco had come to a decision during its two days' session. • The Rev. E. Eliot-Chambers was spokesman for tho deputation, and prefaced his remarks with the observation that ho and his co-delegates wero working in the interests of the integrity and efficiency of the British Navy, and it was with these interests at heart that they had discussed certain important questions during tho conference. Tho resolutions now submitted included, among other things, proposals for tho creation of a New Zealand naval reserve; the establishment of one or more shore training homes, to be conducted in conjunction with tho drillships, and a larger training vessel than the Amokura, which was not an "expert" vessel in any sense of tho word. S'ho was a most expensive ship, her accommodation was inadequate far the country's requirements, tho ventilation of tho 'tween decks was not satisfactory, and sho was not able to carry tho gun mountings necessary for the complete instruction of the boys. With regard to the present training of the naval reservists in New Zealand, the speaker said that sorno system of registration was required in order.that these men might bo car-marked for service in time of need. It was also thought that the number of New Zealand cadetships available at tho Eoyal Naval College at Osborne might be arranged for. In reply, the Prime Minister said that a few years ago he took the opportunity of making representations to the Homo Government with regard to securing a larger vessel than the Amoku-ra, of an obsolete class, but otherwise highly suitable as a training ship. The cost, bowever, was found to be too high. Modern ideas on the subject of sea-training for youths inclined to the.shore schools or colleges, working in conjunction witli the, training vessel. It was not desirabtej he continued, that such a training institution should be established in tho vicinity of a port where there was considerable activity. It might bo possible, ne said, to start with one. The Amokura was not large enough for the work required of her; there ought to bs provision for a much larger number on board. The idea generally of a permanent force of .naval reservists commended itself to him. They had to bo careful, however, to do nothing which might have an injurious effect upon the system of internal defence, which was now in its transitional stage from the old to tho new. That aspect of the question would require to be looked into. As regarded the question of sending a. greater number of cadets to the Eoyal Naval Collego at Osborne, Sir Joseph Ward went on to say that the matter had been raised by him, but the difficulty in the way was tho shortage of accommodation. It was proposed in London to arrange for the upkeep of flie Eoyal Naval College at Osborne, under similar conditions to those suggested at the last military conferenco with regard to the upkeep of the 6taff college at Canterbury.