THE ADMIRALTY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10716, 10 September 1912, Page 5

THE ADMIRALTY

..'IMPORTANT REFORMS DUTIES OF THE LORDS DEFINED (Received Last Night 10.20 o'clock.) LONDON, September 9. Under the proposed Admiralty reforms, the First Lord of the Admiralty will undertake the general direction and supervision of all business relating to naval, political, and Board questions.

A memorandum explains that the title of "Controller/' as additional tc that of Third Sea-Cord', will he abolished. But while the latter is restricted generally to tho work of design, all factors contributing to design must "l)e within his control, to enable him to deal with the whole problem', as a warship is primarily In the gun platform, and scarcely anything connectedwith design can be considered apart from armament.

Henceforth the Department of Ordnance and Torpedoes will be transferred, as far as material is concerned from the First Sea Lord to the Third Sea Lord.

The I'''.'l'st Son Lord will be r ( sponsible for the gunnery, torpedo exercises, tactical employment of aircraft.

:•:«] a!! n ib'tary questions connected with the foregoing. ■ The. Second Sea Lord will supervise the personnel, and tho fourth will take charge of .the, stores and' transports. .

A Civil Lord will be entrusted with works, buildings, and the Greenwich Hospitjil. ~ : An." additional- Qivil Lord will attend tp the contracts and dockyard business, but general labour questions will remain under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Financial Secretary. A permanent secretary will deal \vith the general office organisation and correspondence. The memorandum a'3-ds that the new system presents n<? practical difficulties, and is well understood by all concerned.

PRESS COMMENTS. SCHEME FAVOURABLY RECEIVED. (Received- Last Night, 11.20 o'clock. LONDON", September 9. The Times praises the (Right Hon. Winston Churchill for his lucid and cogent memoranda, and adds that the Admiralty has often displayed genius, effective administration and' native aptitude for evolving new schemes, as circumstances require for its conduct. "The changes now announced," the Times nclds, "are then in a line with this genius, which is a strong argument in their favour."

] . The Daily Telegraph states that the ' scheme is important and far-reaching, I and calculated to strengthen the administration and fighting efficiency of j the fleet, by having experienced officers dealing with professional mattery, and Sir F. L. Hopwood, acting as th? Admiralty buyer and business manager. 1 The Daily News says that the changes affecting the Third Sea Lord, should contribute improvement in the vital matter of construction, in which foreign competition is becoming increas- ■ inglv formidable.

The Chronicle states that the scheme is spreading the labours of the Board much more evenly, and wlil make for greater efficiency. "Mr Winston Churchill," the Chronicle continues, "has clearly shown that lie is on the right road."

i The Daily Mail says that the reforms will improve the organisatoin, and diminish complexity, while the "'Admiralty will undoubtedly increase its efficiency by enabling the Firs.'!. Sea Lord to devote the whole of his time to problems' of war, which are more than sufficient for any one brain.

THE SECOND MEMORANDUM. ANOTHER PROPOSAL. (Received This Morning, 12.35 o'clock.) LONDON, September 9. A second memorandum explains that director of equipment will be associated in the direction, of the dock yards with the superintendent of contract work, in advising on questions arising in connection with building alterations and repairs. "He will constantly tak<? stock of the conditions of the ships, and will be empowered to confer with the superintendents of the dockyards.

Details informing the heads of the other professional departments, in all matters of which they should he cognisant are also explained.