WARSHIP TROPHIES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 11, 13 July 1922, Page 6

WARSHIP TROPHIES

FBOM H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Severaltowns have been making claims for trophies'from H.M.S. New Zealand. Th« grounds on which the claims are made differ, but usually the chief ground is that the town wants the trophies. Yesterday, in the House of Representatives, Mr. J. Craigie (Timaru), as representative of the town which did most to ■place those trophies on tlie cruiser, had a word to say. He recalled the movement .initiated by himself and carried through with the assistance of Mr. Charles Fraser to collect subscriptions throughout New Zealand. A silver bell, a shield, and a fund of £500, the interest on which provided prize money for shooting, were presented to the ship. He suggested that the bell, the shield, and the album in which shooting results were recorded should be brought to New Zealand and placed in the vestibule of the House of Representatives. The shooting fund stood: at £600, as no competitions were held during the war, and the trus tees, of whom he was one, had recommended that the prize money should go to the Chatham or any vessel which might subsequently be stationed in New, Zealand waters, but if any future vessel bore the name' of New Zealand.the gifts should be handed to. her.

The Minister of Defence (Sir R Heaton Rhodes) said .that, he had discussed the matter with the Naval Chief Staff Officer, who informed him that the officers and men of the Chatham much appreciated the gift of prize-money which would be given for shooting performances. The bell apd shield, he was informed, were stored at Bosyth pending a decision as to their ultimate disposal. He had just received a cable message from the Kxst Lord of the Admiralty, Lord! Lee, stating that New Zealand, could have whatever ■' they thought was' worth having out of the vessel, and could also be credited with, whatever came out of the scrap. There were other articles in addition to the trophies which might be of use' to the Chatham, including silver bugles, mess pictures, silver and Maori carvings. All these things would be returned to New Zealand and,, failinp; a war museum, he thought Mr. CTaigie was right in his suggestion that' suitable trophies should be placed in the vestibule of the House of Representatives. Other centres arid, organisations had asked for trophies, but his^personalopinion was that it would be a mistake to divide them up. They should be placed in the Dominion museum. The Minister acknowledged the work done by Mr. Craigie and Mr. Frsser fn collecting the trophy fnnd. !