A NEW NAVAL BASE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 238, 25 September 1911, Page 6

A NEW NAVAL BASE.

CLAIMS OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND. UNFAVOURABLE REPLY FROM THE ADMIRALTY.

For some time past the local bodies of Marlborough, through Air. J. Dunean, M.P., and by other methods, have been endeavouring to brin|j under the notice of the Admiralty ;he claims of Queen Charlotte Sound ts a naval base. The Pieton Borough Council also wrote to the First Lord of the Admiralty on this ques■on, and has received the following ■eply :—“l9th July, 1911. Sir,—With reference to your letter of the 10th May, addressed to the First Lord, i am commanded by my Lord’s Commissioner of the Admiralty to inform you that careful consideration has been given to the representations rontained in the memorial of the Picton Borough Council, and while it is ■e cognised that Picton harbour has great natural advantages, it is considered that the absence of docks and facilities for repairing ships and the lack of railway communication with Ibe main system of the South Island render it unsuitably for adoption as i naval base.”

Referring to this matter editoriilly, the “Express” states the Picton borough Council and the other local bodies of Marlborough who have interested themselves in the question of the naval base for the South Pa:ific section of the British Navy have had hopes rudely shat- | .ered by the reply just received from :he Admiralty. There is no need to ] •eeapitulate any of the circumstances eading up to the despatch of the 'ouncil’s letter in May last, except !o state that in consequence of Australia’s decision to have a small fleet of her own and New Zealand’s decision to continue to subsidize the Imperial Navy direct, it will soon be found necessary for the Admiralty o erect new headquarters for the | New Zealand squadron at a New. Zealand port. Auckland was looked upon as the port most likely to be chosen, but Auckland labours under certain disadvantages from w’hich Queen Charlotte Sound is free. Picton, of course, has its disadvantages, but it was anticipated that if it were made the naval base these disadvantages would speedily be removed. The Admiralty, however, has taken things as they are, not as they may be in a few years’ time, and Picton’s claims have been thrust aside. The application, the secretary states, has received “careful consideration,” and it is recognised that ricton harbour possesses great natural advantages, but the absence of .docks and" facilities for repairing warships, and the lack of railway communication with the main system of the South Island ■ adoption as se disadvanty to blame : shoulders of >urse, it? was Queen Chartain docks, province had table treatrailway conby this time ith the mam system of the Houth Island. As it is Ikiie rhilway is not likely to be comfor' ten years unless greater pressure is brought to bear. As pait of the defence scheme of the DominMon, it is of the utmost importance '■hat the South Island Main Trunk 4 line should be completed witn the greatest possible expedition.