LIGHT CRUISER FOR NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 7

LIGHT CRUISER FOR NEW ZEALAND

PRESENT FROM THE ADMIRALTY VESSEL SIMILAR TO THE SYDNEY By Telegraph—Prejs Association-Copyright London, Juno 2. Official.—Mr. Massey has recently hud several interviews with the Admiralty authorities, with tho result I hat ho has been officially informed thai, thoy will' willingly liand over to the New Zealand Government a thoroughly up-to-date ) iijlit cruiser of between 45(10 and 5000 tons. The ship's speed is twenty-nine knots, Suit she. is oil-driven.' As there may be difficulty about oil supplies in the.-Domin-ion, the Admiralty is willing to substitute temporarily ii coal-bunang ship of the Bristol class, but;not quite so fast, an exchange '£b be inade later when convenient to the >Jew Zealand Government. The British crew is to he replaced gradually;

The ship is to come under the New Zealand Defence Act, 1913,' and the-an-nual .contribution now paid by the' Dominion- for naval purposes is to go towards tlm maintenance of the :cruiser, which oil a peace footing it is expected to meet. The ship is.similar, to tho Sydney and the Melbourne, of the Australian fleet. The vessel is to fit in/with any arrangements that may be made for tho future defence of the Pacific, but will be a. New Zealand ship, with headquarters in-the Dominion. One of the objects is lo give, young Xew.Zeaiauders, whether.European or Maori, !m opportunity to follow the maritime life,

As regards the smaller warships-now in Wellington Harbour, these are to be broken up or otherwise dealt.with as the Now.-Zealand Government thinks lit. As already announced ana titer vessel, but smaller, to replace the training ship Amokura will be selected from those available—fi-ess Absii.