THE SQUADRON’S VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1923, Page 4

THE SQUADRON’S VISIT

WLLLINCT iiN Dee. 0. The probable programme ei Ihe fin]iei iai ..'ijiiadroiT.s visit to New Zealand is as follows: Hattie Ciiiiseis. Vv'c i 1 in:•! :.m, arrive April tM. leave .May i, A tick! an J. -nim .May 14. 1.-.ivc ,M;.v IT. .Light ( i ni-.-is. I.vuvltoii (three ships) at live May I. have May I. Wt I[mo j ~|i (live -hips ;nrivc A fa;, f>, leave .May li. Auckland attire .May 10. leave May If. V■> . 1 the shi; ••• d! !• ■’ • ‘A -■ 11ii 1 tm, on Mac , (f >o to am hor efi Napier and to- .citt- inr a riant iimc H the weather permit-:, bui in an\ (Use the .-hips prill steam rinse lo both place-. IL.M.s. Dm.edin w ill visit I'm r (. milled.. Irani May is-,, lo .May 111 1 ., and another light, mi-t will vLd the lliiilf I ini!. May Ist. to May .‘it'd. The Minister of Rofelirc (Sir 11. H. Rhode.-,) exotessed regret that the Admiraltv would not sanction the vi-it i.f the battl ■ erui.-v - to Lyttelton or Duucdiii. As a sculheru tnetubvr of I’prli iineiil. 'lie -aid. lie was s. rry. but the (love: nnieut laid apprea; lied the At! mi rally mi the subject and they had sail lhey could not aglce to these two i.jo ships going to Lyttelton or linin'ill’ll. Til L P,.\TTI.K GR RISERS. WELLINGTON. Dccrmbe, d. Disappointment will no doubt be felt in the South Island tliat a: range-im-nts have not been made liy the Admiralty for the battle eruisers Hood and Repulse to visit Lyttelton and Dunedin. On XovoniUer (i a cable mes-

sage from London stated that the Ad miralty was carefully examining tin: possiliility of 11.M.5. Hood and H.AI.S. Repulse elite! ing South Island ports These were the two finest, ships in the

British Xav.v and the iintho: ii.ics were licit inclined to take risks. The message added that .Mr Massey was in cent sulfation with the Admiralty in regard

to the matter. The Minister of Defence stated today that naturally everyone was anxious to see the battle eruisers. As a South Island member of Parliament he v'iis particularly sorry*!lint the two big ships were not going tw visit Lyttelton. llie Government had approached the Admiralty on the subject, hut the authorities had definitely stated thijh they could not agree to the Hood or the Repulse going to the South Bland.

It has already boon announced that H.AI.S. 'Dunedin will visit Fort Chalmers. hut people in the city of Dunedin are somewhat aggrieved that ttiey will not have the opportunity of seeing some of the light- cruisers, in view of the fact- that they anticipate occasional visits from the Dunedin in the future when she takes up her role as flagship of the New Zealand division. Possible further representations will he made to the Government on the matter vitn a view of seeing whether the programme for the naval visit cannot he amended in some way. in order t<c fall in with the wishes of Dunedin people.