NEW ZEALAND NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1919, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NAVY.

-A LIGHT CRUISER SECURED. A NEW TRADING VESSEL. By Tolegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 0, 11.14 p.m. London, June 2. Mr. Massey had recently had several interviews with the Admiralty authorities, with the result that he is officially informed that they are willing to hand over to the New Zealand Government a thoroughly up-to-date light cruiser of between 4500 and SOOO tone, and a ship of twenty-nine knots, but it is oil-driven. As there may be difficulty about oil supplies in the Dominion, the Admiralty is willing to substitute temporarily a coalburning ship of the Bristol chut;, but not quite so fast. An e&change iy to be made later when convenient to the New Zealand Government. The British crew is to be replaced gradually, and the ship to come under the New Zealand Defence Act, 1013, and the annual contribution now paid by the Dominion for naval purposes to go towards the maintenance of the cruiser, which will be on a peace footing. 'The ship is similar to the Sydney and Melbourne, of the Australian fleet. The vessel is to fit in with any arrangement that may be made for the future defence of the Pacific, but the New Zealand ship will have its headquarters in the Dominion. One of the objects will be to give young New Zealanders, whether European or Maori, an opportunity to follow maritime life. As regards the smaller warships now in Wellington harbor, these are to be broken tip or otherwise dealt with, as the New Zealand Government thinks fit. As already announced, another vessel, but smaller is to replace tho training ship Amokura, to be selected from th«se available.—Official