HIGH PAY FOR SEAMEN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 7

HIGH PAY FOR SEAMEN.

« COMMONWEALTH NAVY BATES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Oonyrisht Melbourne, Juno 13. The rate of pay for seamen in the Australian Navy will be 4s. a (lay. This, it is claimed, will ho the highest paid by any navy in tho world. No difficulty in getting men is anticipated. MANNING THE FLEET. "I have some figures furnished to me," the Federal Minister for Defenco (Senatox Pearce) said some little timo ago, "as to tho number of men required and available to man the new Commonwealth unit; As tho result of my inquiries into the.probable position, I find that we shall require 137 officers and 2224 men, or a total complement of 2361. Wo havo in our permanent naval forces 210 officers and men. On October 1 last tho number of Australians serving with the Australian squadron was 71(i, and up to Juno 30, 1909, 79 men had completed their period of five years' service with the squadron. Of these 79 men, 76 havo taken their discharge for tho shore, and three had re-engaged for a further period of five years' service. Of course it is possible that these 716' nien will como to us, but it has to be remembered that, as a number, of them will have completed I'heir term of service, and may or may not re-engage, .recruiting is. still going on here for tho Australian squadron; and all those who join now for service with tho. Psyche and other vessels are told that, on completion of t'ho Commonwealth unit, they will be transferred to tho service of the Australian Government. I think it is likely that, if that were taore generally known, it would stimulate recruiting to the present squadron. It will be seen that wo have a pretty big task beforo us if wo aro going t'o supply sin appreciable number of the men required for tho new fleet unit, and wo havo to take some pretty active steps in the near future towards training our own sailors. With this in view, I propose to take action at an early date in tho direction of establishing training schools."