NAVY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 75, 25 September 1912, Page 2

NAVY LEAGUE

NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the New Zealand Navy League opened yesterday in the Town Hall. Mr. R. D. D. M'Lean (Napier) presided. Among thos^ present were— His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence). The following were delegates:— Rev. Eliot Chambers (Christ3hurch), Captain Treleaven (ChristchurcK), and Messrs. C, R. Smith and R. Darroch (Wellington), C. W. Palmer (Nelson), G. N. G. Arber and J. C. Craigie, M.P. (Timaru), and G. M. , Thomson, M.P. (Otago). _ Apologies were received from— Messrs. W. J. Napier and Michaels (Auckland), T. K. Sidey, M.P. (Otago), and LieutColonel Hayhurst (Temuka). The Rev. Eliot Chambers moved— "That it be a recommendation to the Government of New Zealand to provide for the registration on their discharge of all New Zealanders who have served in the R.N. .Special Reserve of the R.N. and drawn increased pay, or of those with R.N. or R.N.R. training, who are not otherwise enrolled in any R.N/ Reserve, so that a record may be kept of the whereabouts of all trained men, seamen, or cngihe-foom staff, whose services would be invaluable 'in case of need." The mover explained that at present these men were largely lost to the Nav^ and the Empire. The motion was carried. ROYAL FLEET RESERVE. Mr, G. ft. G: Arber (Tintaru) moved— "That the institution of a'«NeW Zealand branch of the Royal Fleet Reserve be ho longer delayed, and that a deputation from this conference, including those delegates who are also member? of Parliament, be appointed to approach the Government, and urge that steps be taken to institute this force forthwith." The speaker explained that the Royal Fleet Reserve was a very different thing from the Royal Naval Reserve. Men enrolled in the- Royal Fleet Reserve were men who were fit to take their place in the ship's company of any fully com< missioned ship on active service by reason of the knowledge and experience gained after a period of at least live years' training. The Royal Naval Reserve was composed of men who came up for a period of three weeks' drill each year, without having had any previous naval or even sometimes nautical training. Its value to the Navy was practically nil, and the money spent on it might be far better utilised in providing a properly organised and efficient force, which would in the space of a few years make the New Zealander, as a sailor in the Royal Navy, a factor to be reckoned with whetf Imperial defence proposals Were discussed. New Zealand might go , far to assist the setting tip of an Eastern fleet of Empire, the first steps towards which had been taken by Australia. The motion was carried* unanimously. BETTER TRAINING. Mr. G. M. 'Thomeon, M.P. (Otago), moved : "That additional provision be made for the training of lads as eeamen, (a) by the New Zealand Government providing a second and larger training ship ; (b) the establishment of shore depots; (c) amendment of the Defence Act giving boys the choice of either marine or military instruction." ■ The motion was carried. , Mr. R. Darroch (Wellington) moved { "That the conference strongly urge th£ Government to institute N at least two cadetshipe annually— to be. of the value of £100 each, for New Zealand boys de- j sir/jus of entering the commissioned ' ranks of the Royal Navy— aueh cadetehips to be. tenable at Osborne or euch. other naval colleges in England or Australia as the Admiralty may from time to time fix upon, and to be open, to can* didatea passing the necessary qualifying examination and receiving the approval of Hie Excellency the Governor of the Dominion for the time being. • The cadetehips to be additional to the vacancies already at the disposal of the Dominion Government, with which they are jin no, way to interfere." The .motion was carried. < . , > ; It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of the Rev. "Mr. Chambers, seconded by Mi*. Arber : "That, in the opinion ot this league, the present contribution of NeSv Zealand to the maintenance of the Imperial Navy- }<?. inadequate, in view "of the- fact- that our safety and' independence and .the secuttiy of our oversea. tr*de are wholly dependent on the existence of a diifirertMft Navy." It was moved by the Rew. 'Eliot Cha.n> b*fß i "'That this conference of delegates, repratenting all branches of the Nurjr League in New 'Zealand, desire to h«»ttily cofigratukt* the /patent body la London on the e*cefl*nt wotk which' it hit dott« by urging upon the British Government the importance of an allpowerful Navy, and hopes that it will continue its efforts with redoubled energy, and nasures them of oiir loyal and continued support."' The resolution was. carried.