NAVAL DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 142, 16 May 1940, Page 11

NAVAL DEFENCE

DOMINION’S PART. MEN SENT ABROAD. WELLINGTON, ‘May 16. The contribution New Zealand is making to the naval defence of . the Empire was referred to by the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) in a further statement' issued last night. He said that, in view of the misapprehension which still exists in some Quarters in regard to the question of New Zealanders undertaking naval service, it was desirable to state clearly how this matter now stood. Mr Jones said that very shortly after the outbreak of war His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom informed the New Zealand Government that, so far as the Navy was concerned, it would be glad if Jvew Zealand could provide personnel of the following classes: (1) Trained iiavai reserves j (2) yachtsmen and ex-mei cantile marine officers, for commissions in the R.N.V.R.; (3) certain technicians and others suitable for entry as artificers, artisans, signalmen and telegraphists. _ Trained naval reserves referred, ot course, to the members of the R.N.R. and R.N.V.R., and the numbers available, after satisfying the requirements of the New Zealand Naval Forces (25 officers land 219 ratings) had proceeded overseas after final training. IMPERIAL MEN REPLACED. So far as yachtsmen were concerned, the Admiralty, stated that present requirements were limited to ten. The' ten most suitable from the many hundreds of applications which had been received from time to time in the Navy Office had been selected and had also left New Zealand. Large numbers of candidates for entry in the technical ratings had applied, and 56 candidates had been entered and trained in H.M.S. Philomel. They had also left for England. A further batch of three officers and 81 men on loan from the Royal Navy had been relieved by New Zealand reserve personnel and had left for England to lesume service in the Imperial Navy. The New Zealand R.N.V.R. had provided 65 ratings ias A guns’ crews in no fewer than 25 defeiisively armed merchant ships. SERVICES AT WAR STRENGTH.

“So far as the New Zealand naval forces are concerned, the ships and services maintained by the Naval Board are all at war strength,” said Mr Jones, “and, unless there is any major development in naval defence in. New Zealand, the requirements of personnel are fully met by the existing active service and mobilised reserve personnel. At the same time, the permanent recruiting, training and manning policy is being continued to provide a career in the navy for New Zealanders.” Mr Jones added that he hoped from his statement that it would now. be understood that New Zealand was making its contribution to the naval defence of the Empire to the full extent of the Admiralty’s present requirements. If, and when, the Admiralty a6ked New Zealand to provide more personnel, New Zealand would comply to the best, of its ability. It should, however, be understood that the policy of the British Government in this war was to maintain a controlled intake of manpower for the fighting services, and there was not the slightest doubt that if large numbers of seamen and others were shipped to the United Kingdohi, as had been suggested in letters to the Press, this would be a source of considerable embarrassment to the authorities in the Old Country, and would probably result in disappointment to the men themsel.ves, The authorities in England could be relied upon to communicate their further requirements as soon as they arose.