AUSTRALIAN NAVAL RESERVE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3826, 23 August 1899, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NAVAL RESERVE.

COMMANDANTS’ SUGGESTIONS,

MELBOURNE, Tuesday. The report- on. the conference recently Jre.d hero by the naval Commandants of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have been made public. Resolutions were adopted declaring that whilst a. local naval reserve could uqt bo raised in Australia under the conditiqns required by the Admiralty, an efficient available force could be established on pay and conditions suitable to the colonies. This should be amalgamated with the existing permanent establishment, whicn would serve as an instructional, staff and form a nucleus for the maintenance of tho vessels in reserve. The force could be maintained and controlled by the Federal Government the Admiralty to provide ships of a typo effective for service in time of war. In time cf peace tlie.se vessels would bo stationed in tho principal ports for the training of the local forces. It is also recommended that on first enrolment the men be drafted for five years’ service, during which they shall be liable, if required, to serve in tho fleet abroad ; and that they shall then be drafted into the second’division for five years of harbour service.

The report points out that the present cost of the naval forces and of the maintenance of the auxiliary squadron, if controlled by tile Federal Government, would be sufficient to provide five secondclass cruisers and maintain a reserve not only sufficient to man these vessels in time of peace, but also to furnish a source whence men can be made available to meet Imperial naval requirements.