OUR NAVAL POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 41, 17 August 1923, Page 2

OUR NAVAL POLICY

CURRENT YEAR'S PROGRAMME

SLIGHT EXPANSION IN PER- . SONNEL.

Several nutters affecting the naval defence policy of New Zealand are discussed m the annual report of Commodore Hotham, which was presented in the House of Representatives yesterday. The report stated that the estimates for the current financial- year had been, framed with the object of giving effect to the views expressed-by the Admiralty as to the lines which, in their opinion, the Dominion naval policy should follow.

_Only alight expansion in the personnel of the Dominion's naval forces was proposed during the current financial year, the report intimated, the recruiting polJ?y being based on the substitution of the Chatham by an oil-burning light cruiser next year, these ships earned lav fewer stokers, hut rather more seamen, than cruisers of the Chatham v ii il .ri^ rin? the P"*l two ye^s and a-half the foundations had been laid with a view, as the financial position of the .Dominion improved, to the gradual expansion of the sea-going squadron to the quota of three light cruisers, with attendant oil-tanker, and a unit of oceangoing submarines. \ The Admiralty has emphasised the necessity, ' stated the report, for the provision of oil-fuel reserves in the .Dominion, independent of commercial stocks, before oil-burning cruisers were sent to the South Pacific. An item of £12,000 had therefore been placed on the estimates for the erection of a 5000----ton oil-tank at Devonport,. as- Auckland had proved to be eminently suitable as a. repairing and storing base" for a small squadron.

An early start was to be made in the development of the defences of Sin-a-pore at an eventual cost of about &W - 000 000. tt ew Zealand's B hare of contribution towards this Imperial work P9°n Ur>lnn 6 re#a^ de? a« approximately £200 000, and if the isum could be plovidod during this and the following year the Government would be clear of their commitment under this head by the year iy^s, when, it was hoped, some expansion m the seagoing squadron maintained in theae waters would be possible. When this took place the annual maintenance charges Avould absorb the £100 600 which, it was suggested, should be contributed annually during this and nest financial year for the equipment of Einpii-6 naval bases. Items had been placed on tile estiiflates for the improvement of the facilities of the existing base for repair work etc., and of the Philomel and buildings attached thereto as a training and receivmg depot. A further item of £5000 had been inserted with a view to.relieving the Imperial Government of tha subsidy which it had been paying continuously since 1909 under agreement with the Auckland Harbour Board for the payment of £15p,000 over a period: of thirty years. In regard to reserves of fuel, provision had been made for the continuance of the policy of maintaining emergency stocks of coal at Auckland and at Suva, Fiji. It was proposed durltig the current financial year to continue the enrolment and training of reserve ratings, and to commence the entry of officers. - ,

An jtem of £5500 had been placed on the estunateß for tho purchase of guns iE'-'SO^-' 1? 1?. 1 ;.4efence.,. > .Thiß item enould be flontmued'. for.. the next.ten years-until fifty guns had been obtained tor the purpose. Until larger numbers had teen enrolled in the JR«lerve it was not, : proposed to.ask for money for the commencement of a. mine-sweeping orga-