NAVAL SALVAGE TUG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19056, 29 June 1925, Page 8

NAVAL SALVAGE TUG.

WELLINGTON'S ACQUISITION^ ARRIVAL DATE INDEFINITE. REFUSAL BY AUCKLAND BOARD[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER, ] WELL IN GTON Saturday. The Government does not know afc present when the naval salvage tug which' has been given by the Imperial Government to New Zealand will arrive in these waters. The gift was made partly in recognition of the Government's action in wiping off the balance of the Admiralty's indebtedness for the special naval equipment provided at the Calliope Dock, Auckland, a dumber of years ago. This plant includes a wharf, sheerlegs and workshops. The arrangement was that its cost should bo repaid to the Auckland Harbour Board by yearly instalments of £SOOO over a period of years. The Minister for Defence, Sir R, Heaton Rhodes, when questioned about the matter to-day, stated that the Government had in the first place offered a tug to the Auckland Harbour Board on condition that that body paid the cost of refitting the vessel in England to meet New Zealand requirements and sailing her out. Another condition was that she should be made available free of charge to assist in the berthing of warships and for certain other naval purposes. " The Auckland Board for some reason would not accept the offer," said Sir Heaton Rhodes, " so we made the same proposition to the Wellington Board, which agreed to the conditions. Possibly the refitting is taking some time, but at all events I have no advice just, now about the date when the tug will arrive in these waters." REASONS FOR REJECTION. HEAVY COST INVOLVED. STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN., The attitude of the Auckland Harbour Board in regard to the offer of au. Admiralty tug was explained yesterday by Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, the chairman. He said that originally the tug wlas offered to the board on condition that the Admiralty should bo allowed to take over the sheerlegs at Devonport. This did not meet with the approval of the board, and the offer was declined. It was then found that the Admiralty could not make the gift to the board, and it was then proposed that the tug shonld bo given to the New Zealand Government, which would then lease the vessel to the board. This offer was made, but it was estimated by the board that it would cost about £4OOO to fit her out and approximately another £IOOO to sail her out to Now Zealand. The idea, said Mr. Mackenzie, was to have this vessel as a salvage tug, but when it was found that the board would not have entire possession of the tug the conclusion was reached that it would not be warranted in spending money on such a venture, particularly as the Navy would call on the services of the vessel for tendering warships, towing targets and other work. The offer wis therefore declined. Mr. Mackenzie added that had tbo board undertaken to accept the tug under the conditions laid down the expenditure would probably have been something like £2OOO a year, and the board could not. see that it was likely to get value for'the outlay. '