MATTERS NAUTICAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 14

MATTERS NAUTICAL.

Sir,—ln the small hours of the morning a time invariably selected for tho explaining away of delinquencies and mismanagement, the Minister for Marine discourses to a sleepy Houso anent matters nautical. And the men who go down to tho sea in ships aro again told, what they heard six years ago, viz., "That as Commander Sinclair, K.1.M., of the Indian Marino Survey, " considered our steamers Hinemoa and Tutanekai unsuitable for survey work, and as tho British Admiralty refusod to- loan or hire one of several vessels which he' (Mr. Millar) knew to bo doing nothing at Hong Kong, and as, furthermore, our own Arnokurn was otherwise employed, there was no possibility of going on with the work at present." Incidentally, and, perhaps, with the object of warning-off further awkward questions, he added "that the Government had to consider whether i was worth while going further into tho matter of coastal survey, in view of the fact that a complete survey of New Zealand coast would require thirty years to make, and an expenditure of .£15,000 a year to carry out." He pointed out that the discoverer of an uncharted rock or rocks receivod a bonus from the Government, on making same known. It would be interesting to hear what bonus the owners of the s.s.'s Kaipara, Elingaraite, Monowai, Waihora, Tokomaru, Tomoana, and many othor vessels have received from the Governriient for their "discoveries" in this direction, also if said owners were quite satisfied that tho bonus was a fair quid pro quo. This East Indian survey expert ha.s become a veritable bogey-man, brought out carefully when required to annihilate persistent questioners. I hopo he enjoys good health, and will live for many years, int. as a bogey, it is really, time that he was laid past, and tho opinion of some other expert called in upon our nautical "plant," and its utility for survey work. It is admitted by the Marine Department that the Amokura could be made use of for survey work, at tho expense of .£SOOO, but as she is. otherwise employed, and the Tutanekai and Hincmoa aro unsuitable, nothing can be dono at present. Now, sir, I affirm that both the Amokura and the Tutanekai can, at email cost, be made perfectly suitable for survey work. Tho first-named was specially built for survey work by tho British Admiralty, yet it is stated now that it would require an expenditure of .£SOOO to mako her fit! The Tutanekai also is quite suitable, or would bo if tho totally unnecessary top-hamper placed upon her of lato years was removed. It. only remains to fit them with suitable launches and general equipment, and they would bo practically ready for service, instead of lying dialing their sides against wharves iu Wellington Harbour.' This white nlenhaut yelcpt Tutanekai, cost of upkeep during the last financial year Jt47S4; : the did three months' service for the Tele- j '■

graph Department, nnd for tho other nine months lay, as stated above, "standing by.' The Amoknra is our training ship for boys, and onr paternal Government l;cei)9 her laid up throughout tho winter with the boys, who are "training" for sraraen, loafing through the long months, whilst llioso in charge of them strivo to inculcate, theoretically, knowledge- that is only obtainable practically, through actual experience. These lads, or a portion of them, could bo utilised on both tho vessels named if they wero emploved at survey work, nnd by so doing a spirit of independence would )m bred into them, which will never obtain under present conditions, whilst they are not self-siip-porting. The report of the Marine Department shows that there wero at the end of the financial year 55 boys on board tho training ship, the working expenses of which are stated to have been ,£7505 for the year. This works out at .£137 per boy per annum. Many of our labouring class have to support themselves, wives, and families upon less! Tho whole- thing i 6 an absurdity. There is no reason why our training 6hip should not bo self-supporting, or, at all events, a contributory towards its own support. Also sho should bo kept moving. It has been pithily said that those who wait until all tho gales are passed' will never go to sea, and eailors are not exotics that require cultivating in glass houses; at least such a coime was not considered advisable some years backAnyhow there is plenty of scope in the bouth Pacific to locate tho training station to suit the season, and a winter trip around tho South Sea Islands is the ideal treatment for tired and overwrought business men. Why not try it on Hie Amokura. boys for an anodvno? Int surveying is the special service that this eallnnt little ship is specially dcsigiied ior, and her work is ready and waiting, even at the door of this Empire City,ot ours, and if the boys are deemed unsuitable for such work I wonld suggest withdrawing them altogether from the Amokura and purchasing a good wholesonic sailing ship of fairly large tonnage— one.that could stop out all night, even if it rained. Such a vessel, run on business lines in the timber and coal trades hetwepn either Australia or America and New Zealand, would be a training ship in reality not a nursery for young children. Incidentally, sho would always pay her Consideration for your space warns me lo conclmlo, but there aro many r.ther items that need explanation which I reserve for future publicity through vour columns, if permitted.-l am, etc., ' .WM/COZENS.