PROPOSED TRAINING – SHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12267, 11 May 1903, Page 5

PROPOSED TRAINING - SHIP.

REQUEST BY THE PREMIER.

REPLY FROM THE ADMIRALTY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COKKESI'ONDENT.]

Wellington", Sunday. ' In his letter to the Imperial authorities, asking that one of the warships on the Australian station should be set aside as a training-ship, Mr. Seddon wrote: —

" Seeing that some of the vessels on the Australian-New Zealand squadron are obsolete, and will probably not be required for active service, I would respectfully urge you to grant one of these ships to be used as a training-ship for boys in New Zealand, who would be drafted from our orphanages, and when of age would probably join the drill-ship, to be provided under the new agreement respecting the Australian-New Zealand squadron. This has been a long-felt want in our colony, and would he not only serviceable in furnishing firemen for the drill-ship, but would also serve to furnish seamen for our mercantile marine, which is very desirable, as a great number or the steamers in the colonies now are aliens."

The reply of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty was that they will, towards the end of 1903, when the time comes for relieving H.M.s. Lizard, or other similar vessel, favourably consider the granting of one of the ships on the Australian Station for a training-ship for boys in New Zealand, on the understanding that the arrangement made shall involve no expense to the Crown. The Premier has written, through His Excellency the Governor, asking for all information as to the estimated cost of equipment of the ship, the number of officers, petty officers, and men usually employed on a similar training-ship in Home waters; also accommodation, dietary, and usual upkeep, and any data that might assist the Government when they are making provision on the Departmental Estimates for the training-ship.