MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 104, 29 October 1913, Page 3

MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE

SHOULDERING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES RECRUITS WANTED. " I have ' no doubt;" continued Mr. Massey, "that the Imperial authorities are, in their judgment, doing the best possible 'in the interests of the Empire as a whole, but the New Zealand Government think a commencement should be made to improve the naval position in the South Pacific, and, if .no satisfactory arrangement is arrived at before next session, Parliament will 'be a^ked to agree to the building in Britain of one fast modern cruiser, probably of the 'Bristol' type, costing about £400,000, to be used in ' the event of necessity requiring it for the protection of our trade routes. This type of ship costs £400,000, and is described by Jane as follows : Length, 430 f t; beam, 47ft ; moan draught,) 15ift ; length over all, 453 ft. Guns : two 6-in, ten 4-in. Displacement, 4800 tons. Complement, 376. Designed horse-power, 22,000—25 knots. " It appears quite certain that we are on the> eve of great changes in the Pacific, and , it is well that we should commence to shoulder our responsibilities and look to the future both of the Empire and our growing Dominion. "It is proposed that this ship or any ship that New Zealand may acquire shall be under the administration of New Zealand in peace time, but shall automatically pass under the direct control of the Admiralty immediately on the outbreak of hostilities, or shall be available for Admiralty , purposes on any other occasion when urgently required. "In the meantime H.M.S. Philomel will be taken over by the New Zealand Government and a commencement made with the work of training our own men, and in this connection the Government do not anticipate any difficulty in securing as many recruits as they require. Tho native-born New Zealander of both races takes kindly to a seafaring life, and arrangements should certainly be made for a proportion of the Native race to be trained as seamen. Opportunity will be given to New Zealanders now serving in the Royal Navy to form part of the crew of the seagoing training-ship lent by the Admiralty to New Zealand. The following information regarding the Philomel will be of interest : Length, 265 f t; beam, 41ft ; maximum draught, 184 ft. Guns : eight 4.7-in, eight 3 pr, four Nordenfeldts, one 7 pr field. Displacement, 2575 tons. Complement, 219. Designed horse-power, 4000 — 16.5 knots. Built in 1890. TRAINING OF OFFICERS AND MEN. "The Admiralty has agreed to continue the present arrangement by which two naval cadetships for the Osborne and Dartmouth course will be annually at the disposal of New Zealand on the nomination of His Excellency the Governor i under the same regulations hitherto in force. The Admiralty will aleo be glad to consider applications on i behalf of New Zealand for 'special entry' under regulations governing this mode of entry. The ordinary channel of entry and training' for naval cadets will be through the Royal Australian Naval College, subject to the New Zealand Government making the necessary arrangements with the Commonwealth. The has intimated that as at present advised this training will bo regarded as equivalent to the training at Osborne and Dartmouth. Until the future requirements for officers can be more accurately estimated, it is suggested that the maximum number of cadets entered yearly should be eight — i.e., two at Osborne or Dartmouth and six at the Australian College. Tho 'special entry cadets' would be in addition to these. "For tho men there will be two methods of entry to the New Zealand Naval Force: (1) As boys, between the ages of fourteen ard a-half and sixteen to serve up to tho age of eighteen, and for seven year* afterwards.} (2). as youtha

and men between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five to serve for seven years. In each case the engagement will include liability to serve in any ships of the Royal Navy. "The method .of training the lads is not yet decided on, it being thought best to await the advice of the officer to be appointed to command the training-ship and advise New Zealand.' "The training of the youths and men is to be in the New Zealand sea-going training-ship, and in such other ships of the Royal Navy as ma.y be stationed in New Zealand waters and detailed for that purpose. After < completing their training, men belonging to the New Zea<land Naval Force will t e available for serving in any ships that may in future be maintained by the New Zealand Government or in the ships of the Royal Navy. Facilities will be provided for men belonging to the New Zealand Naval Force to transfer to the Royal Navy at any stage during or a.t the conclusion of their service. LEGISLATION AND NAVAL ADVISER. "Legislation will be introduced to enable the New Zealand Government to establish a naval force of 'officers and men for service either in any ships that may in the future be maintained by the New Zealand Government or in the ships of the Royal Navy, and for the application of the Naval Discipline Acts and the Admiralty instructions to this force, and, further, to reconstitute the New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve. "It is proposed that the officer incotnmand of the seagoing training-cruiser lent to the New Zealand Government shall be senior officer of the New Zealand Naval Force and adviser of the New Zealand Government (through the Minister who may be placed jn charge of naval defence) on all matters affecting the organisation of the New Zealand Naval Force. MANNING AND RESERVE. "A career for officers and men belonging to the New Zealand Naval ' Force will be available in ships that may in the future be maintained by the New Zealand Government, or in the 6hips of the Royal Navy'; the manning of ships in New Zealand waters will be regarded as the primary object. "The New ' Zealand Royal Naval Reserve will be reconstituted so as to consist in future of men who have served in the New Zealand Naval Force, and who volunteeer on discharge to join the Reserve, and of men who have served in the Royal Navy, many of whom now liv» in New Zealand." DOCKYARD AT AUCKLAND. Provision will be made by the New Zealand Government in the way of suitable accommodation at Auckland for a naval depot for the joint use of the ships of the Royal Navy and the NewZealand Naval Force; the establishment, for the time being, to be maintained by and under the control of the Admiralty. Repairs and supplies for the New Zealand Force will be charged for on repayment basis. SCALE OF PAY. The scale of pay of officers of the Royal Navy lent to New Zealand shall be the same scale of pay as in the Royal Navy, unless a separate New Zealand service is established. Men lent from the Royal Navy to the N,ew Zealand Naval Force will receive New Zealand rates of. pay. The rates of pay, etc., in the New Zealand ship or ships will be the same as those fixed in\tne Royal Australian Force. ( This scale will apply to men belonging to the New Zealand Naval Force serving in ships of the ' Royal Navy in New Zealand waters. ' Service in the Royal Navy beyond New Zealand waters will be considered as "foreign service," and will be paid at Royal Navy rates only, the balance between such rates and those fixed for the New Zealand Force being allowed to accumulate.