NAVAL DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17627, 13 November 1920, Page 8

NAVAL DEFENCE.

NEEDS OF DOMINION.

, LOED JELLICOE'S OPINION. [B? TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Among papers presented to Parliament ■in the last hours of the session was a summary of a cablegram received by the Government nearly twelve months ago from Lord Jellicoe with reference to the naval defence of New Zealand. The cablegram recommended that the Government of New Zealand should take the following action : —(1) Establish a navy board of administration, including the appointment of a commodore as chief of the naval staff; (2) organise and commence recruiting; (3) fit out and commission the Philomel as a training ship; (4) acquire from the Admiralty a coal-burning light cruiser, having a main armament comprising six ' inch guns only. The Admiral added that if suitable vessels could be obtained he considered that the general scheme for the development of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy could be carried out on lines shown in a table forwarded to the Governor(Jenerai!. This table assumes, that the ships of the New Zealand division, with reserves of ammunition and stores, are initially a gift from the British Government. The division would consist first of one light cruiser, six submarines and parent ship, and e,ight destroyers with attached aircraft, and a training ship. Two other light cruisers would be added during the next five' years. The v.naval charges would be £559,800 in the first year and would have risen to £1,051,450 in the sixth year.