COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 111, 1 May 1908, Page 3

COLONIAL DEFENCE.

A PROPOSAL SCOUXEI). Sydney. AprlT :iu« Tbe Sydney Morning Herald say* tlx' New Zealand proposal to encourage tinbuilding of sea-going yachts with a viow to their use for coastal defence purposes is generally regarded in local naval circles as baring more humor than utility. Commander Brownlow, the Slate Naval Commandant, looking at the projwM u it appears in a New Zealamr .paper and not being in possession of ■any farther data, says: "It certainly aeems to me impractical as fas as defence is concerned. Auxiliary vessel* uritk as peed of five miles are of no iw •whatever for purposes uf coastal defence, and even boats built for racing that coald be used for purposes of defence in this respect would be up-to-date ■destroyers or vessels of the scout class. The New Zealand suggestion is evidently with a view to co-opeiation in time •of war between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, but a proper wireless telegraph system would be of more benefit than any combination of yacht chili- to ~pnrride vessels." A proposal was recently brought for- , ward by Captain Archibald, of Auckland, to encourage yacht races between New Zealand and Australia with a view 'to creating a fleet of sea-going yachts :to be used in time of war.