N. Z. COAST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 199, 14 August 1940, Page 7

N. Z. COAST

MARINE DEPARTMENT WORK The coast-watching organisation established at the beginning of the war is described in the annual report of the Marine Department. "With the co-operation of the Army and harbour boards a prepared scheme for coast watching waj put into operation," says the report, "and an organisation set up which still keeps the Naval Intelligence in touch with all shipping movements round the coast of New Zealand." All arrangements had been made by which riav'gational aids through out the country couTd be immediately controlled as and where the necessity arose. It had not been necessary to exercise this control, but the scheme was in being and could be operated at a moment's net tie, a should the occasion arise. Vessels required by the. Navy for examination services at Auckland, Wellington and Lyttelton were at once requisitioned, manned and handed over for duty, the terms of taking being later arranged by a committee working from the Treasury. Three trawlers were taken up in Auckland and handed over to the Navy for reconditioning and equipping as minesweepers. Two other f.rawlers were fitted with certain mineswecping geni and then velurn°d for the time being to their fishing.