THE NEW TRAINING SHIP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 5

THE NEW TRAINING SHIP

(To tho Editor.) Sir—l see that Captain Hooper, in selecting a new training ship for New Zealand, lias chosen J1.V.5. Sapphire, i. largo, full-powered tb'rd-ciass cruiser, Now, in regard to this ship I should like to say a few words. In me first place, is the scheme of training boys for tho eea going to bo continued under tho same syllabus as at present on the Amokura, viz., mainly for the merchant service; or is'it going to b3 altered and run in conjunction with the scheme of navai training for the local navy, as advocated by Lord Jellicoe in his recent report? If this latter idea is not to be followed, and the scheme of training is to remain as it is, then as one who knows the requirements of training boys for the merchant service, I may say. that the Sapphire is not a suitable the purpose. Besides, being a most expensive vessel to run, her upkeep and running expenses will probably be a»out ,£25,00(1 a year, if not more. And let me tell you on account of her construction that the Sapphire will have to he kept up in a very different condition from that of the Amokura, or in a considerably short time a disaster may occur at sea.

The most suitable type of vessel for. tho purpose would be a vessel of some 1200 tons, either barque or barquontine rigged, with machinery capable of developing a speed of 12 knots.

An inexnensivo nlnn wWoty a \ aT g e number of boys could I>o given a thorouglily efficient sea training would be to have a training establishment ashore— an admirable site on the new reclamation could be obtained—and have attached a seagoing training ahip such as I have described above. The younger boys could have all their accommodation in the shore establishment, and receive most of their training there, with a certain amount of work on the ship while she was in harbour. The elder boys should bo on board the ship altogether, both in harfjour and at sea, for, say. at least the last nine months or so of their training period.

The- abovo plan is followed in many places in England, botli for the Navy and merchant service, with overy success.— I am, etc.,

COOIC STRAIT, Wellington, January IG, 1920.

[Tin's letter was submitted to the Minister nf Marine (Sir William Hemes) yesterday. The Minister said that Iho sliio Sapphire wis not -'eallv a big ship, and in any ease a ship considerably larger than the Amoktmi was needed to accommodate more iboys than could now bo taken. As to the cost of running tho ship, he could not speak with authority, having; no information at the moment. But he made it quite clear that the new training vessel is to be used for the same purposes exactly as those for which the Ainnliurit. has been nsid-lhe training of youths for service in the mercanlile marine. It was not intended that the ship will be used for the training of boys for the Navy.—Editor Dominion-!