Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17293, 17 October 1919, Page 9

DOMINION'S OBLIGATIONS. MEN AM) MONEY FOR, SHIPS PART OF FAR EASTERN FLEET. DEFENCE OF HARBOURS. / USE OF FISHERY TRAWLERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —VHESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thnredaj. The report to the New Zealand Government by Admiral of the Fleet Viscount JelJicoe waa presented to the House of Representatives this afternoon. It is a lengthy document, dealing with the subject in great detail from all aspect*. A covering letter to the Governor-General traverses the course of discussions on naval defence since the crisis of 1909, when the N<.w Zealand Government presented the battle-cruder New Zealand to the Imperial Government. Then it refers to the result of Kir James Allen's visit to England in 1015, under which arrangements were prepared for the organisation and the training of a New Zealand naval 'force, of which the officers and men were to be available for service in any ship maintained in future by the New Zealand Government or in any ship of the Royal Navy in New Zealand -waters or the Pacific, or belonging to the China or East Indies squadrons. It was understood that the manning of ships in New Zealand waters was the primary object of the New Zealand naval force. The outbreak of war occurred before any action had been taken in the matter of recruiting and training officers and men for the New Zealand naval force. I/ord Jellicoe says experience has shown abundantly that responsibilities in the matter of naval defence are far mora clearly recognised and far more cheerfully shouldered if the result of the effort made if apparent to those making it; in other words, if the ships provided are seen by the people who pay for them and are manned as far as possible by their own kith and kin. Integral Part of Eoyal Navj. With i.he adoption of such a policy there is still no reason why the vessels .-hould not form part and parcel of the Boyal Navy; the ships being of the samn type, the personnel actuated by the same motive?, trained on the same lines, imbued with the same traditions, governed by practically a common discipline, and aim nj at the same high standard of •efficiency. FT* proposals are drawn up with this object in view. The general principle on which the proposals are has*d is that New Zealand should coup* rate in the naval defence of the Kmpire and assist the Mother Country financial by paying for the manning and the maintenance of a certain proportion of the far Eastern fleet, and of all vessels required for harbour defence in New Zealand, as well as by providing ruch portions of the personnel as i? practicable. It is suggested thai the vessels main'■■'•"l 1... the people of New Zealand -<'• ■< n.l h- tenner) "The New Zealand Dim $ '■■ of the Ko\al Nav.. ' Ii j* no t recommended thai s',-r.s should be taken to bund war ve«. ■. ~ \ev,- Zealand, or that any naval dockyard should he con t'TnplaU,d for t..,- present Repairs arid i«-ti:-s -T.uld he earn.*! out in ppvat* ...:d> in New 7. a'and. or in the. Aim traluti "M.veri.met.t. e-Üb],. a hn,entf . I' I - '";'" *"■" "•!• 1 Li.al r-.-nairs arc not '-. v '"" 1 the rap.-,.,)-. ~f ,'„.. , ~m m, .,,... yards in New Zeaiai d though they migh: be earned iiijl undei -.on:., ilisad'an'.a ■.- It i* propped tint, the adnimi.M.r.'.r,.-., <-'{ the d;vi.,e.„ ..Hot, V* .armed on! In a boa 4 ...n.M.-t.rc.- of he Minuter fo, (>,: fern and a na.-.il oft,.-,., ..., tn the rani <>i commodore The prov-inon* of th, \avai Defer,, .\.t. | o.', 3, for rh" divi-v., being pla. Ed under the rrvrit.rn! of th. \dmt -al»\ dunn; war '.' if hoM Oil :<■: -c immir-ent sh"uiH continue

Effect of League of Nations. I A *;ufni-;enf for. e tnu-l '•<> kept in the v.irim .. p.artr. of tin «n,!,| t <, pinto,l i r *,de -tnrj insure the o.ir,' capture or the de-trm t.mti ~f raider,' IV'fen. ~ against. -uK uirt.r:pej. -wllich the late war has shown • -.• opera "e .it mimen.-.e .l:J ,-i.im e t'-'.m •'.<•;,• ). w -e> and .cjair,t-t ~-nai ,<((.ck al~o ■•e.,.ii.-o* . i.nsider.i.o,, l.houuh in the •■.,,..■ ■ ' \« Zealand -he danger of ~.-,;;,' ~(...-,, V ■. ..t,l> -i'_-ht uudei pre,-.-.,! conditions In H--. m; ■••ith th.< !■!■' mi- Infer" linn l/.r-f) ,I,i'.i..e s.l>„ he had to rc'n the. ■■hole ii,.\a.l iiiie>t:nn ii. it- relation to h•< r E.M-ter" lAd.teif-. from the Indian Ocean lo !" uIH/ia. All portion." of the Unii-h Kill rir< ii- these w,it-Ts are equally intended •r, .li.-, ,-. ; i r ,t\ ;i-, regards sea, ■ ■onsmuoi eati<-.t,: and itif\ itably the com h'-n n !« th.i* t'lo defetn <- ','' these commutii' a • ,-.,„ should be ...it I'd to one fleet■vimpossd of units from those part.« of Ihp Vtr.f'ire d'rectlx on'rrned While definite proposal- are p.it forward.it i? rerogn'.-erl ihal the dc -ion'- mac he affected by the formation . I lie |,e..g.ie ..f Nation'' The report •an • njy deal with conditions a* iliev t».x -■ st Some of the questions con • "rne.d are Imperial commitments, some. •>ff«--t \v. P Commonwealth of Australia, other*. »gp!y to New Zealand.

It is desirable that New Zealand should become independent of outside assistance in the work of mine-sweeping. The simplest and cheapest method of obtaining I in war the services of efficient minesweeping vessels is by the encouragement of a trawler fishery service during peace. The larger ships of the Australian navy at present are fitted to burn coal, with oil as an auxiliary, and the fact that for many weeks coal-burning ships in the Pacific had been unable to obtain suitable coal emphasises the dangerous position that would have existed if it had been necessary to move ships for active service during this interval The danger of the situation has been pointed out to the Commonwealth Government, but as war vessels in the Pacific are entirely dependent on coal from Westport, the "matter is obviously ■ one in which the help of New Zealand is I necessary, and it is suggested that the f whole matter should be dealt with bex fcween the Governments of New Zealand and Australia. Considerable reserves of coal are a vital necessity for the Far i Eastern Fleet, which will comprise coall burning vessels for at any rate 15 years. I Attention is directed to the Imperial hn- ( portance of the Westport Coal Company's mines at Westport and Granity. At ' present the only coal in New Zealand and • Australia suitable for the Far Eastern i Fleet is that provided bv mixing the pro- , ducts of thene two mines. The percentage of the financial contributions to the upkeep of the British Navy, J based on the mean of population and the I values of oversea trade, are set down as » follows: —United Kingdom, 74.12 per . cent. ; Australia, 7.74; New Zealand , Canada, 12.3; South Africa, 3.82. Since Australia and New Zealand would 1 have no part of the expenses of Atlantic i defence, it is suggested that their share in t the Pacific should be more in proportion t of the cost of the provision and the mainj tenance for the Far Eastern fleet. Therefore it is suggested that the proportions should be, approximately :— Great Britain, 75 per cent. ; Australia, 20 per cent. ; j New Zealand, 5 per cent. On this basis r the contributions would amount to t £19,637,700 yearly, distributed as follows Great Britain, £14,728,275; Australia. £6,927,540: and New Zealand, i £981,885. » Harbour Defences. New Zealand's requirements in vessels ' for harbour defence purposes are : — Eight 9 old destroyers or "P" boats, of which r four would be in full commission, and the r remainder in reserve ; 18 mine-sweepers j e oi the trawler type, of which two would i 1 be for instructional purposes, and the re- I mainder are assumed to be fishing trawlers; four boom defence vessels, to be in reserve. It is recommended that the i old destroyers should be acquired by I P 1923. Britain could probably supply I 8 them. 9 New Zealand's purposes would be best % served by vessels of the light cruiser type, e destroyers, submarines, and a small air- " craft force. A unit under these con- , ! ditions should comprise one light cruiser, * j two destroyers, and two submarines. ! The first necessity is the provision of 1 three light cruisers, sir submarines, and I one submarine parent ship. To complete B three units, the next provision.'therefore, should be six destroyers. These "units" are fit for service in a " striking force or alternatively may lie . used for the direct defence of trade* g It is suggested that the ships and tha ' personnel for the. New Zealand Division should he lent by the United Kingdom , jto the New Zealand Government, eom- ' | mencmg in 1920. with a coal-burning light ,j j cruiser, carrying 6:n gun armament, other : I vessels being added gradually till the ( I division reaches its complete strength. 0 i about the middle of 1926. As the vessels r ; he.-onie obsolete they should be replaced I at the cost of the New Zealand Governd ; rn"rit- „ i Meanwhile New Zealand should start to . | train officers and men for the eerv <-e. It : The administration of the New Zealand ~ Division should be controlled by an officer, ,1 -V, he known as the .hief of' the naval ~ staff of the New Zealand Naval Board, F : •a'..! should be appointed a.« soon as the n ; first light cruiser is detailed , Cost of Maintenance. k ; Ibe annual n>j| of po.-twai mainten,p ! ai..-e per --hip is of! mated as fallows for '" !, -'bt .Milder- ■( the Cassandra -ype. submarin. - ■■'. th.- I. typi'. and of a submarine ' A , parent ship of ihe Platypus type :--

I Sub I'a.rent. i I Crui«er. marine. Shin. ' . ' nrntii'men 1 .. .".n /,q 14.1; ; i ''<•■• .cm..son if..200 £-21 ROO ■ ->cnsir..:.«n „!!..„. -.0011 i..-,u<i 4.200 I ! «.'■ -*.000 1.500 i.200 : I V..t,,.0 -int. .■.7.5011 J.:Vm In.fiOO i , hen.iir-. 'lie . c^ f f= 7«.00n lu.ooo I.'i.SOO 1 . !'e P ,-.,-„ M.OOO t.noo ".'.'no' fie,.re, ~!;,,„ 7,.">..',0il 10.000 o.."00 1 Tet 111 per .''in £211.7.00 i:.-,',.'. Yin XW.500 : i S ni.'ar c.-timateo for a na\al air rehool ' ; are as follows: Complement. 40 : pav. ! i;io.'oo allowance. £15,00 : victualling. ' £?. r . repairs, etc. £1000 : pensions, J £1000: depreciation £1r...500- total. j £.V". r, on The total annual cost till 192b is esti- | m.ci ed as follows : — '.<M> ~'l i.".6".100 •.ftil-j.' -. .. .. r,(io.osn 1022- V- .. >. .. f»34,0(X) irtii-24 »-, ». .. 373.500 1124 25 1 072 «oo ! n."5--jfi 1,166.100 I horrl .Telhcoe define.' the duties of the : mem.hers of the Naval Board. The Minister for Defence will have the general direction of all business, questions of j policy a.nd fiTian<-*- The chief of the i naval" staff will supervise the fighting and j the sea, going efficiency of the New Zeal land division. Control will thus be placed

in the hands of the civil authority responsible to Parliament, and the Minister mav accept or reject any proposals made by the chief of staff. The chain of administration will be as follows : —Under the Naval Board, one chief staff officer supervising personnel, mobilisation of reserves, wireless and hydrographic questions, and local naval defences. Then come one general staff officer, controlling naval intelligence, communications, transport and trade; one superintendent oi training; one superintendent of naval engineering and construction; one superintendent of stores ana victualling, accounts and contracts ; one medical officer, and a secretary and secretariat. The training of the personnel will be the same as in the Royal Navy. A naval reserve will be enlisted on similar conditions to those of the Royal Naval Reserve from the Dominion's mercantile marine. For recruiting purposes New Zealand should be divided into four districts, with headquarters at Auckland. Wellington, Christohureh, and Dunedin, and t an auxiliary patrol service should also 'be established. The report closes with a lengthy reference to the inculcation and the maintainence of discipline. The Government has received an additional report, which is confidential.