NAVAL DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2128, 21 April 1914, Page 7

NAVAL DEFENCE

EACHTMEN'S LOYAL PROPOSAL. ; .'(By T«leirapll.—Prejs Association.)' ■■',' Auckland, April 20. , ' A deputation from the New. Zealand Royal Yacht Squadron and the New Zealand Pioneer Boat Association waitthe. Prime Minister to-day and urged tho institution by the Government of a local naval reserve scheme, under which yachtsmen and others will-, ing might undergo regular training for coast defenoe. It was urged: that yaohtameh at Auckland and other ports, would be able in an emergency to man torpedoboats at no' expense to the Govern-, ment. It was estimated' that in Auckland there were 500 trained yachtsmen who 1 would willingly volunteer for per-, vice in such & corps. ■ Mr. Massey expressed appreciation of the patriotic spirit prompting the offer. Coast' defences- miglit- be put on very -much better, conditions than they were in at present. He thought auvantage should.be taken of the yaohtsmeirs offer, and would recommend the.scheme moat strongly to the .Dominion's naval adviser when the latter arrived. Mr. Massey added that although the, time and. place had not been fixed, it had been practically agreed that a conference should be held by the countries interested in the naval dofence, of the Paeifionot later than the beginning of text year.'. . , .