ENDEAVOUR TO GO TO ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 244, 13 July 1939, Page 8

ENDEAVOUR TO GO TO ENGLAND

More Modern Ship To Continue Survey

ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY MINISTER

By Telegraph—l'resti Association.

AUCKLAND, July 12.

A statement that the Admiralty survey ship, Endeavour, was returning to England, was made today by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, in reply to inquiries made as the result of rumours to this effect circulating in Auckland. The Minister said that the Endeavour would be returning to England toward the end of August, and would be replaced in due course by a more modern survey ship. When the Endeavour came back to Auckland recently, after a season’s survey on the coast between Whangarei and Russell, the commander, Captain Wyatt, stated that the ship would probably be recommissioned in New Zealand about August 24. This plan was in accordance with arrangements made when the ship first arrived at Auckland on June 15, 1937, to begin a long-awaited marine survey of the whole of the New Zealand coastline. It was never intended that the Endeavour should finish this task, which, it has been estimated, will take from 20 to 30 years, but it was thought that she woultl do at least part of her second commission before being relieved by a more modern vessel. Because the Endeavour burns coal, it has been found that the farther she works away from a convenient coaling base the less economical does her running become, and it has not been expected that she would carry the survey past North Cape and possibly not beyond Three Kings. The name of the shin to relieve the Endeavour when the time came was discussed shortly after she began her work. Ships named as possibilities were the Heron, a new surveying vessel, which was Included in the 1936 naval estimates among ships to be ordered, and two others of the same class, the Bittern and the Egret. However, it was not till after complaints were made recently about cramped conditions for the Endeavour’s crew and about the peculiarly exacting task confronting stokers iu a small coal-burning ship on survey, that the possibility of the ship not beginning another commission was suggested. The Endeavour returned to port last on June 1. For the following few days a naval inquiry was held into allegations of disaffection on the ship. In the last few days ratings of the Endeavour, who had volunteered to serve the next commission, have said that the ship is to return to England. These statements are now confirmed by the Minister. It is considered that recent complaints of accommodation for the large crew needed for the survey have hastened the -relief of the vessel.