THE THIRD CRUISER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 8

THE THIRD CRUISER.

CONSIDERATION PENDING. NAVAL BOARD TO MEET. THE FINANCIAL QUESTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. The hint contained in the GovernorGeneral s speech that the Government was considering the position of the country in relation to naval defence is about to be supported by events. Recent Iv the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coatesi. in replying to a deputation from the Navy League, which waited upon him to urge provision for greater expenditure on naval matters than has hitherto been made, promised that the question should have the attention of the Naval Board and that it would bo considered at the next Imperial Conference. Now ifc has been learned that the Naval Board is to meet in a fortnight, as soon as its senior member, Commodore A. Beat, returns to Wellington, and that the question of ordering the third cruiser for service in New Zealand waters will then bo discussed. It is understood that the board's personnel is entirely in favour of this course and that the main consideration at the meeting will be whether the moment is opportune for such a course in view of the financial position of the Dominion. A Question of Time. A cruiser could not be obtained for about two years even if the order wer<> given at once, for the Admiralty would have to find a"IV class boat, such as is required, and this probably would mean the relieving of the vessel from her present station and the bringing of her hack to Great Britain for refitting. The matter of relief might even be. more complicated and several movements of ships may have to be made before the desired cruiser could be available. Naturally, the. New Zealand Government desires the best arrangement possible and, as all the "D" class boats are on service, refitting would bo portion of the necessary programme. The cost of a cruiser of this class while on service in New Zealand waters would be something over £200,000 per year. There aro now two such vessels on service and the naval estimates of £500,000 include the running of these two ships and of the Philomel as training ship, with the balance spent on other necessaries. Cost of Naval Defence. At present the British taxpayers contribute 24s per head for naval defence, and it is pointed out that New Zealand's contribution, on a per capita basis, is only about one-third of this. It is not contended that the Dominion should be expected to spend as much on naval defence as tho Mother Country, however, since New Zealand is still a young country and needs as much money as possible for development, for the construction of roads and railways, which is necessarily much more limited in the older lands.

Meantime, then, tho addition of a third cruiser to the New Zealand station is expected to be the only step which the Naval Board will recommend. The New Zealand division will soon bo further strengthened by the arrival of the Whakakura, which is to bo used for tho training of men in the latest methods of mine-sweeping. The Dominion's naval vote has increased by just 100 per cent, during the last three years. ,