NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1940, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND CRUISERS

NOW UNITS OF ROYAL NAVY. UNDER LONG-STANDING AGREEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The degree of control exercised by the New Zealand Government over the ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy at present was defined by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, in an interview yesterday. “In accordance with a long-standing agreement with the British Government, we handed over to the Admiralty When the war began the two cruisers m the New Zealand Division, H.M.S. Achilles and Leander,” Mr. Jones said. “Though these ships are under the control of the Admiralty for the duration of the war, their movements are always determined and directed in consultation with the New Zealand Government.”

The minister explained that while the cruisers were now acting as units of the Royal Navy, the questions of pay and conditions in them came under New Zealand regulations. As far as other naval units, such as minesweepers and various auxiliaries are concerned, they remained under full New Zealand control, and the Dominion’s regulations applied to those on board. Only two cruisers had been handed over to the Admiralty. It was absolutely essential to effective naval operations that the utmost co-operation and co-ordination should be established, and that could only De done when there was one directing authority. That applied to the whole of the British Commonwealth.