ASHORE AND AFLOAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 423, 3 August 1928, Page 7

ASHORE AND AFLOAT

COMMODORE SWABEY’S NEW RESPONSIBILITIES NAVAL BOARD REORGANISED (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Thursday. In addition to his Responsibilities as Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Commodore G. T. C. P. Swabey will now assume those of First Naval Member of the Naval Board. The constitution of the New Zealand Naval Board, which was set up in 1913. was amended by an Order-in-Council gazetted to-night. The Naval Board will now b© composed of: The Minister of Defence (president). Tho Commodore Commanding the New Zealand station as first naval member. A captain in the Royal Navy as the second naval member. The member of the board, a captain of the Royal Navy, hitherto called the Chief Staff Officer, will undertake the duties of the latter office.

The first naval member will be responsible for operations of war and all staff business, all large questions of naval policy and maritime warfare. The second naval member will direct the personnel and material branches. The secretary to the commodore commanding will also act as secretary to the Naval Board. The board will control all questions relating to the naval forces upon the policy directed by the Minister and will have executive command of the naval forces. All decisions of the board which involve policy or important principle, an increased rate or any new expenditure, must be submitted for Cabinet approval. A representative of the Treasury will keep account of expenditure with a view to ensuring that it is kept within the estimates. The Minister is to have the general direction and supervision of all business. This reorganisation makes the administration of the New Zealand Naval Force 3 very similar to that of the Royal Australian Navy and its auxiliary services. In Australia, however, the position of First Naval Member and flag-officer commandjil?? afloat are held by different officers. The board, which has its headquarters in Alelbourne, while the fleet base is at Sydney, also has a civil member who controls finance, thus relieving the Minister of Defence of this responsibility. The Australian Board also has a permanent secretary who holds the honorary rank of paymaster-commander in the R.A.N.