NAVY LEAGUE REQUESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20234, 19 April 1929, Page 12

NAVY LEAGUE REQUESTS

THE VOLUNTEER RESERVE.

MORE AIRCRAFT DESIRED

NEW MACHINES ON ORDER.

[ny TELEan.vrn. —own correspondent. 1

WELLINGTON. Thursday. Remits passed at the recent conference of the New Zealand branches of the Navy League were presented to the Prime Minister, .Sir Joseph Ward, and the Minister of Defence, Hon. T. M. Wilford, to-dav by a deputation fully representative of the various branches of the league throughout the Dominion. As spokesman for the deputation Mr. P. Darroch said the first remit dealt with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. They were anxious to see the activities of the reserve extended. Already it had expanded from Auckland to the other three main centres, and the reserve was meeting with much success. The conditions of physique required for admission were no less strict than they were for the Royal Navy. They hoped it would be possible later on to extend the movement to other centres such as Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson, etc., and they also hoped it would be possible for a system to be arranged whereby the reserve would be "fed" by picked cadets. This idea had been approved by Earl Jellicoe.

Equipment of Naval Forces. The second remit, said Mr. Darrocli, urged that earnest consideration bo given by the Government and their naval advisers to the equipment of the ships upon the New Zealand station with suitable seaplanes, the necessary air training in peace time of part of the naval defence forces stationed m this Dominion, and the provision of suitable aircraft as part of our naval defence forces.

Mr. Darrocli urged that the Minister of Education bo asked to consider Lho advisability of supplying tho latest edition of the Navy League wall map and naval pictures to the schools throughout the Dominion.

The Navy League branches offered to assist the Government by the formation of a representative commjttee officially empowered to investigate genuine cases of hardship among unemployed ex-British naval ratings and ex-merchant service men, and make recommendations for piovisional relief by the Government. The Hobsonville Aerodrome.

The Minister of Defence said the Government was fully alive to the necessity of providing suitablo seaplanes and flying boats in the future. Approval had already been given for tho ordering oi a Moth "aeroplane convertible for uso over land or sea, which would be shipped to New Zealand this month, and of two Fairey seaplanes similarly convertible, which would lie shipped in June. lhe Government could not afford, however, to find money for the creation of large aerodromes. Landing places were being established air over the Dominion, but there would be only one official naval aerodrome. His department was now concentrating upon the establishment of a first-class type of aerodrome at Hobsonville, near Auckland, and progress was being made with the construction of slipways, while tho hangars were ready to receive the machine which would arrive next month. It was quite out of reason at present to go to the expense ot buying big non-convertiblo flying boats tor defence purposes. The Southampton machine for instance, cost £20,000, and \sas expected to cost £50,000 with new improvements that were being made. However, everything was being done that tne deputation asked for. In regard to the Royal Naval Reserve ho said a conference of officers was now being held, at which proposals were being made 111 the very direction the deputation had suggested. Sir Joseph Ward assured the deputation of the Government's interest hi the Navy League, and that it appreciated the work being done, of which he spoke in high terms. He did not think they could give effect to all that was asked, but their sentiments and spirit were entnely with the members of the league in then desire to inculcate a more widespread general interest in the Navy among the vounger generation.