A.—l.

3. I desire to join with my Government in requesting Your Lordship to place this request before the Lords of the Admiralty for favourable consideration. I have, &c, The Earl of Elgin, PLUNKET. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Enclosure. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1908. The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and will be glad if His Excellency will inform the Imperial authorities that the New Zealand Government is desirous of obtaining a larger and more suitable ship than the " Amokura " for training purposes, and trusts that if at any time one of the larger ships of the British navy is found to be obsolete, instead of breaking the vessel up, an opportunity will be given this Dominion of acquiring her. It is the wish of the Government to make provision for the training of up to one thousand young men at a time. A proportion of the men thus trained would then be available for manning His Majesty's ships in New Zealand waters. It is also contemplated that the training of young men for the mercantile marine should be undertaken on the New Zealand ships. The advantage of this proposal would be that in times of trouble even those who were engaged in the latter occupation would be sufficiently trained to man His Majesty's ships if required. J. G. Ward.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,600 copies), ill 12s. 6d.

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