Royal Naval Auxiliary Patrol

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 September 1916, Page 3

Royal Naval Auxiliary Patrol

♦ MOTOR BOAT .SHRVICK At the request of the Imperial Government. tin? New Zealand Government lias .consented to the enlistment in this dominion of a limited number of officers and mechanics for service in the motor vessels employed i;n the Auxiliary I'atrol. Representatives of the British Admiralty have arrived in New Zealand for the piirpo.se of selecting tlit* men required. An office has been established in Wellington, in the Parliamentary Buildings, and the Admiralty officers will visit in due course all the principal cities for the '.purpose of interviewing candidates. J 'Tlie British Admiralty calls for two nlasses of retinitis: (1) Commissioned [ officers as second in command of the patrol motor boats; (2) Mechanics to run the engines. (1) The cssciitial qualifications required of candidates for commissions are fust-rate experience in the handling of small craft under sail or power. and a good knowledge of practical sennianship. Some knowledge of elementary navigation is desirable. Officers have no engineering duties to perform. The training consists of a monthcourse in navigation at tlie llo.val Naval College. Greenwich, and n further period at iSouthampton in the depot ,sh:p H.M.S. Hermione. in which the newly entered officer receives instruction in drill, gunnery, signal--1 ling, practical seamanship, etc. On the conclusion of the training period officers are appointed to the armed motor vessels, which are engaged in patrol rand other duties, round the British coast and in other part/s of the world. (2) The men required for engineroom duties need have no previous experience afloat, hut must be mechanics by profession, with good experience in the running and repairing of internal combustion engines, preferably o! the marine or motor-car type.

Applioatioiis from thorse at present engaged in th'O essential industries of tli.iw country are not desired. Age limits are 19 to 45. Two grades arc required : Chief Motor Mechanics and Motor Mechanic*. For the higher rating, which corresponds to Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Xavy. at least five years' workshop experience is required. Two years in the shops will qualify a man for rating as inomeclianic. A man entered in the lower rating can gain promotion to the higher if he proves efficient. The men are given a> course of training on H.M.S. Hermione before being appointed to the patrol vessels. The rates of .pay and allowances for officers and men are a,s follows:--Officers are granted commissions as temporary sub-lientonants. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and receive the ordinary pay of an officer of that rank in the Royal Navy, namely 7s fid per day. Tn the motor hoat service they receive in addition £15 for uniform. ' find certain ail,lowance.s which vary according to the duties on which they are employed. These allowances average about 3s per day when the officer victuals himself. Separation allowance is not paid by the British Admiralty to the wives and dependents of commissioned officers. Chief motor mechanics receive 5n Lid per day; allowance on similar scale as officers—£7 10,s for uniform, and separation allowance on the wune scale as a chief petty officer in the Royal Navy. Motor niechanit'is are paid 2s Gd per day. and allowance. £5 10s for uniform and separation allowance as for seamen in the T?oyal Navv.

Selected candidates, if released from their military duties by tlie Department of Defence, will be provisionally enlisted in New Zealand and .sent at once to England where, their entry bo'inir confirmed, tliev will commence their training forthwith. Offieeiß and men are enlisted for the period of hostilities, and are given free transport to England, and back to their homes on receiving their dus-j charge. Candidates who have not already registered their names should apply in writing to the Auxilary Patrol Committee, Parliamentary Building, stating the nature of the appointment which they desire. They will then receive an official application ferny and full particulars as to pay, allowances., etc. '