IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 271, 8 April 1913, Page 3

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

AI'C'KLAXD AS XAVAL BASE. REPLIES TO ADVERSE AUSTRALIAN CRITICISM. Auckland, April 4. The adverse criticism of Auckland as a_ naval base, which has been cabled to Xew Zealand as the opinion of the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Sun, was brought under the notice of Mr. J. 11. Gunson (chairman of the Harbor Board) by a reporter this morning. "In the first place," said Mr. Gunson. "Auckland naval base is well equipped with machinery and plant installed and fitted to Admiralty plans in connection witli the existing agreement with the Harbor Board under which the Admiralty pays the Board the sum of £SOOO pel' annum. The wharf accommodation at the Calliope dock jetty is quite sufficient for the requirements of the largest waiships. The Dreadnought New Zealand, which is about to pay a visit to these waters, could quite easily berth there, tlie depth of water being over 33ft at the lowest tide." , "Already," Mr. Gunson went on to explain, "plans for further improvements have been submitted to the Admiralty, and the statement that no measures have been taken to prepare the •Auckland harbor for the powerful navy contemplated for New Zealand waters bv the naval conferences of 1!)00 and 11)11 is totally incorrect. That nothing, further has been done is not the fault of the Harbor Board, as proposals have already been laid before the Admiralty and even quite recently further communications have passed in this matter. The Board, quite properly, conducts its negotiations through the Government, which has been fully advised of the position and fully realises the readiness of the Harbor Board to co-operate in any steps' that mav be considered advisable. The 'present Calliope dock, which was built twenty-live years ago, is, of course, too small for modern warship requirements, but the Harbor Board is even now prepared with an excellent site'for a new Dreadnought dock on the southern shore of the harbor off Mechanics' Bay reclamation. Here there is an admirable rock; foundation, and an area of about 800 ft by • 00ft will be available. The JJofird is quite prepared to consider this scheme at any time it is approached by the authorities."

"Obviously," Mr. Gunson points out, "The Auckland Harbor Hoard cannot be .expected- to equip a naval base on its own initiative, but it is ready to aet at any time tlie Government and the Admirajty see lit to l»rin« the matter forward."

Colonel \V. 11. S. Patterson, eoast defence commander of the Auckland military district when approached rewarding the Australian critic-ism. said that he looked upon the aspersions of Auckland harbor move as the individual opinion of one ill-informed critic-than as an indication- of Australian feeling. towards us. "K» far as Auckland harbor is concerned," lie said, "it has greater potentialities as-'an. efficient naval base than Sydney harbor has."

He also pointed out that Auckland could hardly be expected to equip the harbor as a naval base before authoritative representations were made on the subject. The outlook regarding naval matters in the Pacific had altered so much during the last two years that .the Australians, he suggested, were now beginning to feel that their earlier proposals had been somewhat hasty and illadvised.

Apparently, said the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Sun, the Admiralty intends Australia to assume practically the whole responsibility of -the South Pacific local defence. This viewis strengthened by the fact that the Auckland naval base is poorlv equipped, and that no measures have been taken to prepare it for the powerful navy contemplated for New Zealand waters by the naval conferences of 1000 and 1011.

ECZEMA CURED. "Rexona Ointment removed a patch of Eczema from my face in less than a week in a manner that was positively startling," writes Mrs. -lane Robinson, of Commodore-street. Newtown. Sydney, K.S.W. "This p-.ii-b of Er/..-i..a was very unsightly, and really f was ashamed til go out of'the house. Tt was located oil one side of my nose and all round mv mouth. The pain and irritation from which I suffered were intense, this Eczema had been on my face for about four years when i started to use Rexorsn. I had tried all sort? of Ointments and other remedies, but all without anv effect at all. After a few applications.of Rexona. however, the irritation was much decreased, and the Eczema, scabs brisui tn come oIT. iea'vsrtjr'netv skin underneath. The improvement kept up day by dav till all the scabs were gone, and a perfect new skin appeared where (lie disfiguring Eczema formerly was. There is something In that Rexona Ointment that acts like the touch of a magic wand, and the wonderfully speedv cure ''as astonished arid delighted me." Trice Is fid and 3s. Obtainable everywhere.