•H.—s

4

25. Tiie following table shows the numbers discharged or dismissed during the period Ist April, 1924, to 31st March, 1925, after final entry : —

26. Recruiting during the past financial year resulted in obtaining approximately the number of boys required, but the call for a small number of stokers has not so far met with a satisfactory response. 27. It is hoped that the publicity given to the question of naval recruiting by the coloured posters and booklets which are displayed in all post-offices throughout the Dominion will keep before the public the advantages of a life in the navy, and will result in the necessary recruits being obtained. X. New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve. 28. Entries into the New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve (men) during the year under review have been as follows :— Class A (Inactive) —Men discharged from the seagoing forces f Seamen ratings .. . . 7 in New Zealand, other than those joining Class A (Active | Signal and W/T ratings .. 4 Reserve). These men are liable to come up for naval J Engine-room and stoker ratings 16 service, in the event of war, if required, within ten years j Artisan ratings .. 1 of discharge from the seagoing forces, if not then over [ Accountant ratings . . .. 2 forty years of age and cook ratings .. 1 — 31 ratings .. 6 Signal and W/T ratings .. 2 Engine-room and stoker ratings 12 Class A (Active) —Men who have served in the Royal Navy Artisan ratings .. .. 2 or any Dominion Navy Sick-berth ratings .. .. 1 Steward and cook ratings .. 2 Master-at-arms .. 2 — 27 Class B —Men who follow the sea as a profession in the mer-/Seaman ratings .. .. 3 oantile marine or steam fishing-vessels \ Engine-room and stoker ratings 5 — 8 f Seaman ratings .. 7 Class C—Men ineligible for entry in Classes A and B .. <[ Signal and W/T ratings .. 7 and stoker ratings 2 — 16 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 82 29. Men enrolled in Classes A (Active), B, and C are required to come up for training during peace, as laid down in the regulations made by Order in Council of the 10th July, 1922. W/T ratings (Class C) are being selected from volunteers amongst the Telegraph Staff of the Post and Telegraph Department. The personnel manning the radio stations in New Zealand and the islands have been given short courses in naval procedure on board H.M. ships as opportunities have offered. 30. The regulations for the Royal Naval Reserve, Class D, were approved in November, 1924, and a small number of entries has been made. The new regulations establish a fourth class for ratings corresponding to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the United Kingdom, and a beginning has been made at Auckland, with a view that, if it is successful in that port, an extension may gradually be made to other ports in the Dominion. 31. The regulations for entering officers into the Reserve were also made in November, 1924, and commissions have been issued to those who were selected for the vacancies. By the addition of officers to the Reserve scheme it may be said that the outline of the scheme is now complete, and that training in the future should result in a satisfactory Reserve being available in the Dominion for the purposes of mine-sweeping, &c., should this become necessary. XI. Technical Courses for Locally Entered Eatings. 32. As stated in my report for the year ended 31st March, 1924, in accordance with the policy of the Naval Board, a party of New Zealand ratings has been undergoing instruction in the naval training establishments of the United Kingdom. This party completed training and returned to New Zealand at the end of November, 1924, and its members are now serving in H.M.S. " Dunedin."

! Able Seamen, Cause, | Stokers. Other Ratings. j Total. Boys. Services no longer required. Unsuitable, dis- 6 . . .. 6 missed as a punishment Desertion .. .. .. .. 7 6 .. 13 Invalided .. .. .. .. 3 2 .. 5 By purchase .. .. .. .. 2 2 2 6 Totals .. .. .. 18 10 2 30