COASTGUARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 8

COASTGUARD.

KEEN YOUNG MEN. TRAINING FOR THE SEA. Who has not read of the heroic work of the British Coastguard Service? Jt has rendered assistance to hundreds <>f vessels in di.-tress or wrecked, and earlied out dillicult duties incidental to Britain's seaboard. The deeds of the hardy youths and men \\ ho form the service are written large in the history of the Briti-h Isles. The service came into being to rope with the intensive smuggling which followed the conclusion of the Napoleonic wars, a preventive service being formed, otHcered by half-pay naval lieutenants. They worked in conjunction with revenue cutters and riding officers, to whom the duty of the protection of the revenue, had been en-

trusted. Until 1 R:i 1 the control was vested in the Customs, but in that year the service was reorganised and came under the Admiralty, taking the name of Coastguard.

With ii vision of tin- future. Captain J. P. Eastmure, of Auckland, has organised a eoastguar.l division here, and although it lias not been ollicially recognised by the navy or the (Government so far, it is doing a useful service in the direction of training youths for tiie sea as well as for the saving of life, the iiia'ructioN including the use of rockets, lifebelts, breeches buoys and rescue -equipment generally. Over 100 youths belong to the New Zealand Coastguard. Incorporated, and they are all as keen as mustard, otherwise they wjuld nut be in the "team." The fact

that these lads pay for their own uniforms a<3. well as a small subscription annually to belong to the organisation ill ustrates their enthusiasm for the work. The headquarters oflice of the coastguard is a dingy storeroom on Quay Street, but new premises have been acquired, and soon the lads will train in more modern rooms at the corner of Pitt and Wellington Streets. The Idea Originates. When interviewed to-day. Captain Ea-tmure raid that the idea of forming a coastguard service in Auckland had come to him when doing survey work on the New Zealand coast. lie had seen the remain:- of numerous wrecks and the little white head-tones of the .'.■ raves of many of tho-e who had lost their live.- on the coa-l. He ha 1 inaugurate,! hi- -ehenie about two yeaiv, ago. and when war was declared there were about s.-, member- under hi- command. All the pre-ent o!iiecr< were ribbon men. he -aid. and -nine were the recipient- of as many a ■ -i\ medal-. The lads received in-truelion in navigation. >eamanship. tir—t. aid. all phases of signalling, including wircle--. physical drill, and squad and field drill.

"We oIV red the whole out lit to the Navy Hoard when war was declared, but were not accepted." .-aid Captain Eastmure. "We were told by tlie Minister of Defence that we should encourage our members to join the army, and soon afterwards 00 of our men had joined the forces.'' lie explained that it was then decided to 1.-organise the constguard and to confine membership mostly to youths who took an interest in the «ea and who desired to be trained. The idea was to have cadets who wanted to go to sea and those who join either the navy or mercantile marine will find that the training they have received in the coastguard will stand them in good stead," he said. Other Divisions. It is Captain Eas tin tiro's intention later to form divisions in the four main centres. When asked how the organisation was financed, he said it was by public donations and art unions sanctioned by the Government. The coastguard worked in with the St. John Ambulan t l , t"he hospital. Queen's wharf police and the Auckland Harbour Board. The Coastguard Cutter No. 1 was a well found boat specially equipped for ambulance work, and had cost £700. Everything had been included for the comfort fit' invalids. I*. was manned by a coxswain, first aid man, signalman, two bowmen, an engineer and crew. Every Saturday afternoon the trainees received instruction on the harbour. On Tuesday„ and Thursdays they paraded at the coastguard headquarters.

( aptain Kastmure. R.X.P.. belongs to the Xew Zealand Company of Master .Mariners. lie was engaged in mine--weeping in i lie Great War. and str.inge'y enough was stationed at Dunkirk. Lieutenant-Commander E. H. Sniherland i- chief training oflicer of the coasiguard. lie was formerly a yeoman seaman in the navy, and was afterwards a signal instructor in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was wounded at Haplin Court Wood, in France, when be had ;i leg amputated.