ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 534, 15 June 1909, Page 8

ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE.

THE MEW ZEALAND BRANCH. WHY NO ENGINEER OHWCERS? "It may not be generally known that we have in New Zealand a branch of the Royal Navy called tbo Now Zealand Division o£ the Australasian Branch of the Royal Naval Re--SCIVO. ' ■ ... The sbose is tho ; opening sentence of a letter written by Captain G. C. Smith, Royal Naval Registrar for New Zealand, u> roply to overtur-oe made by tho' Institute of Marine Engineers. The letter, which wae read by Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., at tho Institute's complimentary euppor. last nigjit, prooeods aa Mows:— "Xho Australasian linmch ambers 700 men, not including officers, of which number, the New. Zealand branch has allotted to itl 120 Boamen and Btokors, and six comnnesioned officers. The members, of this force undergo a period of drill annually in one of bis Majosty's ahips in New Zealand waters. All of the men, including officers, in the New 'Zealand Division are recruited from the mercantile marine of Ntsw Zealand. ■.-.•■ "In regard to the manning ofltbe reserve, wo new come to what, appears to mo to be an overtook oa the part 01 the naTCil suthoritica at' Homo, in. eo far that no provision hae been made for the enrolment of engineer officers in the Australasian. Brsnch of tbo Eeservo. Wo have in tho enginesra of the New Zealand mercantile marine, a, body of men eecond to none in their profession, and who,- socially and otherwise, are a credit to themselves ond those who tnow them. ' This being so, it seems strango that they should not be allowed to share in tho hoootrr, which their brother enginoora in the Old Country enjoy, of offering their services to their King and country. As a remedy for thia state of affaire, I would surest that tho Institnto of Murine. Engmeers take the mattor in band, and lay their, ease before the proper arjfhorities, and I have no doubt that It wffl receive proper consideration,' and that wo will soon havo the pleaeore of seeing engineer officers in the New Zealand Division of the Australasian Branch of the Nava.l Eeserve.", ■ . . ■ . ■ ... • '