NAVAL NEEDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 August 1924, Page 5

NAVAL NEEDS.

SECOND LIGHT CRUISER. NEW ZEALAND NAVAL TRAINING. (By Telegraph.— Special to Star.) . WELLINGTON, Aug. 20. The importance of the provision of a second light cruiser at the earliest possible moment'cannot be overestimated, ’ states the Commodore of the New Zealand naval station in Jris annual report. He adds that, quite apart from Imperial considerations, with one light' cruiser only there is an entire lack of competition, except on the rare occasions of a visit being paid to Australia or a ship of the Australian navy visiting New Zealand waters. Competition is the keystone of efficiency, and however good the personnel of an individual ship may be, it is impossible to maintain the highest possible standard without competition with at least one other ship of a similar class for the peace tune needs of the station, embracing, as it does, a. very large areii including a considerable number of islands in the South Pacific. It is highly' desirable that another ship should be provided, to enable the various ports to be visited more frequently. It is not contemplated that a submarine flotilla should be established >n New Zealand waters for the present. Uwing to the complement of H M S Dunedin bring smaller than that of the Chatham, the numbers of officers Rnd men to be borne this year are Jess than for the nrevious year No provision has been made for the entry and training of young men who will be required eventually for manning the second and third light cruisers. It is earnestly hoped that as soon as the financial position of the Dominion rennfrS+Llt £ oss , ible a seebnd light cruiser emin 1 D Wlll be added *0 the squadron, and eventually a third. ~ .o e report shows that recruiting acticity has been increased, and the commodore is thoroughly satisfied with the physique and exemplary behaviour of the New Zealanders. He advocates pielimmary training locally and then sending suitable recruits for specialist courses. At first sight, he «a v s it may appear that the cost entailed by sending them to England is extravagance, but the expense is small m comparison with the alternative of establishing and maintaining schools of instruction in New Zealand, and even were this latter course adopted the instruction imparted could not compare with that which can be given to the men in England.