NAVY HONOURS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 9

NAVY HONOURS

Sir,—lt was indeed encouraging to note that, in the recent Birthday Honours awards, two of all the naval officers mentioned had served afloat! If these 0.8.E/S and M.B.E.’s are rewards for service, then it is a sad reflection on the sea-going personnel, who m the last two lists gained a minimum of recognition. If the awards are a sop to the shore-based ? (and 1 am not for one moment belittling the service of these officers nor the fact that they are shorebased), then the whole thing is just a farce and cheapens the ribbon.— Yours, etc., „ MATELOT. June 17, 1946. [The Naval Secretary replies: “The recent Birthday Honours awards were made as the result of the recommendation of the New Zealand Government in respect of naval personnel serving in ships and establishments of the Royal New Zealand Navy under the operational control of the Naval Board. In addition to these, recommendations are also made by the United Kingdom Government in respect of New Zealand personnel serving on loan to the Royal Navy or in New Zealand ships under the operational control of the Admiralty. As an example, in addition to those in the recent King’s Birthday awards, by the time this letter reaches you a list of additional awards in respect of the King’s Birthday which have been made to personnel of the Royal New Zealand Navy in respect of distinguished service in the Far East will be in the process of publication throughout New Zealand. This list contains 17 names, and the awards are all for distinguished service outside New Zealand waters and include service in H.M.N.Z. Ships Achilles and Gambia and service in ships of the Royal Navy."]