FEDERAL NAVAL BOARD

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 89, 11 October 1913, Page 3

FEDERAL NAVAL BOARD

SERIOUS DISSENSION. That the Commonwealth Naval Board was not an altogether happy family has been known for 6onw weeks, and. those who had dealings with tho Department were aware that two of tho members have not been, on speaking terms in private life for many months (states a Sydney paper). The Federal Minister for Defence (Senator Millei>) as mw:i as he took office recognised that all was not right, and at times he has expressed uneasinees its to certain official matters, insomuch as he was unable to satisfy himBelf whether opposition to proposals put forward #by one section of his advisers was not prompted by personal piqti© and ill-feeling rather than oy a desire to advance the best interests of the Federal scheme. Senator Millen has made several attempts to effect a reconciliation, but without avail, and as a result he made up his mind to take a determined stand. The nature of this was disclosed last week, when it was announced, after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, that "His Excellency the GovernorGeneral had approved of a recommendation that Captain C. H. Hughes Onslow, second member of the Naval Board, should be temporarily relieved from duty." When, asked for an explanation, Senator Millen declined to refer to the matter, and investigations in other directions were equally Tesultless. It is known, however, that the tension had become so intense that firm action was necessary if disorganisation of developing schemes was to be avoided. In the circumstances it was determined that Captain Hughes Onslow should be relieved of duty until the cause of the illfeeling and its consequences had been fully cleared up.