TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2476, 15 April 1909, Page 5

TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS

THE AUSTRALIAN NAVY

The final stage in connection with the acceptance of tenders for the construction of three torpedo-boat destroyers for Australia was reached on March loth. 4he whole matter, as was announced some little time ago, had been completed by the Cabinet and the Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce), subject to the arrival of certain information from England, without which the Government would not absolutely close with the tenderers.

That information having arrived, Senator Pearce was able to make the following announcement:—.“We have accepted the joint tender of two Scottish shipbuilding yards (Denny’s and Fairfield’s) at Dumbartoh, for the construction of two torpedo-boat destroyers of tire ‘river’ class, and the prepared material for a third. The prices* arranged are £81,500 each for the compieted vessels, and £72,500 for the prepared material for a third. These prices include armament. The third vessel, as has already been announced, will bo put- together in- Australia. The completed boats will be delivered in England, and the material for the third will be packed and delivered on board-ship for Australia. Professor Byies, who is one of the consulting 'naval architects of the British Admiralty and professor of naval engineering at the Glasgow University, has been retained by the Government to supervise the construction of the vessels. The details of the contract are to be drawn up in London by Captain Collins and Engineer-Comman-der Clarkson, and submitted to the Commonwealth’s legal representative there (Mr Galbraith). The time fixed for the completion of the first -destroyer is 14 months from the date of the contract, and the second vessel will be launched a month later. The prepared material for a destroyer will be ready in 12 months from the signing of the. contract. The shipbuilders have agreed to employ a number of selected men, who will be sent home- by the Commonwealth, and to pay them the ordinary English rates of wage. We proposer now to make a selection from among those who have sent in applications. Wo will choose a suitable number of mell (not less than 12 nor more than 20.) of different trades, and send them home at once. There they will take part in the construction of the vessels, and gain tha requisite experience. The Commonwealth will pay their fares home and back, and pay to their credit the difference between, the English and Australia u rates of pay. This sum will be kept ‘in trust contingent upon the men engaging with the Commonwealth on their return. In the case of married men, we shall have to make a special allowance in consideration of their having to maintain two homes. The choice will not be restricted to men within the Commonwealth service. A departmental draughtsman (it is suggested by Captain Cresswel!) might with advantage be sent home to acquaint himself with details of the work. “With regard to the construction in Australia of a destroyer from the prepared material which is to be sent out, it is proposed to approach the New South Wales Government and ascertain if they are willing to undertake the* work, and under what conditions. The present Federal Government would prefer to see the work done in the State* dockyard rather than in a private yard. We believe that if Parliament will sanction a further building programme, it might be thought necessary by any subsequent Government to take over these works, rarovided that the Now South Wales Government was ready to consent to the transfer, as we understand that it is. OI course, if the New South Wales Government is not prepared to undertake -the construction of the third destroyer from the prepared material, we will have to reconsider the original proposition To establish our own dockyard. W hen the two completed boats are ready in England, we will stMid over skeleton crews, who will bring the vessels to Australia under their own steam.”