NAVAL RESERVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 9

NAVAL RESERVE

RECRUITING OF OFFICERS NO MORE REQUIRED YACHTMASTERS’ APPLICATIONS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. "The acquisition of a New Zealand certificate of competency as master of a pleasure yacht does not confer any right or claim to be accepted lor the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, either in New Zealand or for service in the Royal Navy,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. . ones, commenting on certain references ‘i yachtsmen studying navigation with a view to obtaining yachtmasters’ certificates, which might give the impression that this would be a qualification for entry to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Recalling the recruiting schemes announced by him on June 6 last, Mr Jones said it had been clearly stated that entries for those schemes would close on June 29. It was one qualification for the scheme A that candidates should held a New Zealand yachtmaster’s certificate, or an equivalent, and a number of applicants had stated that, although not at the time possessing a certificate, they were working for it. These men had been informed that u and when they succeeded in passing, they would be considered, but no promise was given that they would be accepted. "Since then," said Mr Jones, ’ the Admiralty has informed the Government that it does not intend to continue to enter officers under scheme A, and it is the present intention not to continue entries under this scheme after the 50 originally asked for by the Admiralty have been obtained. That number is now almost reached, and it is unlikely that more than a very few, men who have only started work for a yachtmaster’s certificate since the scheme was originally announced, can be accepted; and, even so. only candidates who applied to the Naval Secretary before June 29 can be considered. Mr Jones added that in a few cases men who had applied since June 29, stating that they were working for certificates, had been informed that recruiting had stopped, but that should they eventually acquire a certificate it would be noted in the Navy Office in case the scheme, or a similar scheme, should be reopened, but this did not imply any promise or undertaking of acceptance. '