A LONG TOW

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1936, Page 10

A LONG TOW

ROSAMOND FOR AUCKLAND

One of Wellington's fast-dwindling fleet of hulks, the Rosamond, left today for Auckland in tow of the collier Kalingo. Launched in Rotterdam in 1884, the Rosamond has for many years past done duty as an oil-hulk at Wellington for the Union Company, but with the launching of the Hiriuwai her presence here will not be necessary, and she is to supply the company's ships at Auckland with fuel. It will be a long tow up the coast, but with fair weather Auckland should be reached on Sunday.

The Rosamond was an iron steamer I of 462 tons net register, and was purchased in 1888 by the Union Company and brought out to New Zealand.. She was used in various services, and made several voyages to the South Sea Islands, being used mainly in the West Coast coal and timber trade later on. In 1924 she was converted into an oil barge at Wellington, and since then has rendered excellent service, thousands of tons of fuel oil being supplied to the company's ships.

wrong fur tne sacriiice of subordinates.

"Everything in Europe, Asia, and North America is far worse than it was a year ago. We have had another year of German re-armament at full blast. Italy is far better armed and stronger than she was, especially in the air. On the other hand, the Liberal and Democratic countries are passing through a phase of unusual weakness —I pray it may only be a phase. In many countries Communism has raised its snaky head. Amid all these growing and gathering perils to our safety and our freedom, I grieve to see Britain still remain weak, careless, and seemingly incapable of realising the awful degeneration which is taking place around her, and the consequences which it may bring to her prosperity, her Empire, and even to her national life.

"What is the root of this humiliation of which the Prime Minister complains? It is the lamentable weakness into which our defences have been allowed to fall. Errors, feebleness, vacillation there have no doubt been in the current policy of the Government, but the underlying cause of our impotence is the improvident neglect of our defensive strength in years) when every other great nation was arming sternly and resolutely.

"If the people of this country coultl be made to realise where they stand in relation to the armaments of Europu and their responsibilities in so marvy parts of the world, there would be an overwhelming demand for a suprercie endeavour to make our country sais, and a high resolve to use the majestic power of a revivified Britain to sustain and to enforce a reign of pub.1 ie law and justice among the nations."