39

A.—4

It is recommended that the Admiralty should be requested to lend for this purpose officers and petty officers of both Deck and Engine-room Branches, who have experience as officers and instructors respectively in the Training Establishments in England. The syllabus of boys' training should be similar to that of the Boys' Training Establishment at Shotley. On completion of their training, boys and stokers should be drafted direct to seagoing ships. As the full number of vessels comprising the New Zealand Division will not be available until 1926, the disposal of boys and stokers over and above those who can be accommodated in the New Zealand Division at the time must be arranged for by drafting them to H.M. ships on. the China or East Indies Stations, as agreed between the New Zealand Government and the Admiralty. (B) Gunnery Training. Every effort must be made to attain the highest possible standard of efficiency in gunnery. This entails not only a great deal of hard work, but at the same time it is most essential that the best systems of firing, controlling fire, &c, should be introduced. 2. The Royal Navy has vast experience of gunnery, including that of the recent war, and also possesses a large number of gunnery officers constantly collaborating in the study of the numerous gunnery problems. The New Zealand Division should follow to the smallest detail the gunnery methods of the Royal Navy, and no departure whatever from those methods should be sanctioned. 3. To help in the achievement of this — (a.) Lieutenants qualifying for Gunnery Lieutenant, (b.) Sub-Lieutenants qualifying for Lieutenant, (c.) Acting Mates qualifying for Mate, (d.) Ratings qualifying for Gunner's Mate, (e.) Ratings qualifying for Light Director Layer, (/.) Ratings qualifying for Range-taker, Ist Class, (g.) Ratings qualifying for Chief Ordnance Artificer and 2nd Class Ordnance Artificer, should be sent to England to qualify, the necessary arrangements being made with the Admiralty. It is recommended that by arrangement with the Admiralty and the Government of Australia the gunnery training of officers and ratings, other than those mentioned above and those trained in the seagoing vessels of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, should be carried out in the Training Establishments in England or Australia, thus avoiding the heavy burden of setting up duplicate establishments for the comparatively small numbers belonging to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy who will require training. 4. The arrangements for gunnery training and firings made in January, 1919, by the Gunnery and Torpedo Division of the Naval Staff at the Admiralty were promulgated in Confidential Monthly Order No. 167/19. It is recommended that the New Zealand Division should be trained on similar lines. A calibrating range should be established. The Frith of Thames appears to be a suitable locality.