GIFT TO NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18994, 16 April 1925, Page 10

GIFT TO NEW ZEALAND.

admiralty rescue-tug. REFITTING AT ROSYTH. [from oue own correspondent.] LONDON. Mar. 10. A Treasury minute relative to the gift of a rescue-tug to the Government of New Zealand states that the Lords Commissioners of .he Admiralty' find themselves able to dispense with a tug of the "Saint" class which, with a full equipment of permanent stores, is valued at £II,OOO. "The New Zealand Government," the minute adds, "have consistently cooperated with His Majesty's Government in measures of naval defence, and in particular have recently relieved the Board of Admiralty of their obligations to pay the outstanding instalments, amounting to £70,000. due to the Auckland Harbour Board in respect of a subsidy of .£150,000 in course of payment for the equipment of a dry dock at Auckland for the use of His Majesty's ships."

The High Commissioner's Department has been in communication with the Admiralty on this subject for some time. The tug is at piesent. located at Rosyth, and the refitting, the cost of which will be borne by the New Zealand Government, will he carried out there. There are a good many alterations to he made, and wireless and salvage equipment is to ho fitted. It is therefore anticipated that some months will elapse before the ship is ready to proceed on its voyage to New Zealand. special crew will be enrolled to take the tug out, and the cost of the journey will be borne by the New Zealand Government. Members of the crew will take thoir discharge in the Dominion.