BATTLE CRUISER SQUADRON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19065, 10 January 1924, Page 8

BATTLE CRUISER SQUADRON.

PROGRAMME TO BE ADHERED TO. CHRISTCHURCH’S REQUEST DECLINED. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 9. The Government has declined to accede to the request of the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. A. Plesher) that further representations should be roade to the Admiralty that the Kittle cruiser squadron should call at Lyttelton when it visits New Zealand in three months’ time. In a letter received by Mr Fleshcr, Sir Francis Bell, on behalf of the Prime Minister, states: “I beg to acknowledge the recemt of your letter, and in reply to acquaint you that I much regret that it is impossible to make arrangements for the battle cruisers of the Imperial squadron which will visit New Zealand in April and May, to make a call at Lyttelton. I fully appreciate the reasons put forward in your letter, and beg to inform you that immediately on receipt of the original programme (which showed that the battle cruisers were not to visit the South Island), representations were made officially to the Imperial Government and, unofficially, by Mr Massey to the Admiralty, requesting that these vessels should visit Lyttelton. The Admiralty, however, was unable to accede to the request, and I much regret to inform you that no alteration to the programme recently published can be made.”