N.Z. NAVAL MATTERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17635, 7 August 1919, Page 4

N.Z. NAVAL MATTERS

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSE!'.

AUCKLAND, August C

Referring to naval matters, to-day, the Prime Minister pointed out that New Zealand is at the present time paying a subsidy of £100,000 a year to the British Navy, but that iv future this £100,000 would go towards the upkeep of a cruiser. It v.as also arranged that we should have a, vessel for training purposes to replace the Amokura, •. and Captain Hooper of that vessel is now on his way Home to bring her out. This new training ship will probably be a sloop of war of between 2500 ■ and 3000 tons. "We were given the choice of three types of ship for the purpose," said Mr. Massey, "the first being a vessel of the Talbot class, which would be particularly suitable for training purposes. The Defence Department decided, however, that she would prove too big and costly, as she is a boat carrying twelve 6inch guns. Then there was a vessel of the Andromache type, and it is between her type and the sloop already mentioned that choice will lay. It will in all probability be the sloop."

Questioned on the subject of the girft of submarines to New Zealand, rhe Prime Minister said that if Parliament decided that it would iijte to have a submarine or two submarines, then we could have them, although no official offer had been made. lie went on to say that the Admiralty had practically decided to station several light cruisers in the neighbourhood of New Zealand as n, subsquadron of the China Fleet, and these vessels would no doubt make New Zealand their headquarters.

rf The Prime Minister had nothing to say on the subject of a naval station in New Zealand.