ROYAL N.Z. NAVY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 123, 9 March 1950, Page 6

ROYAL N.Z. NAVY

CAMPAIGN FOR RECRUITS BOARD TO VISIT ASHBURTON The New Zealand Navy formally became the Royal New Zealand Navy in October, 1941, and during the Avar NeAV Zealand ships and men played their part alongside other Allied Navies. The coming of peace confronted the Naval authorities Avith the major tasks of demobilising close on 10,000 personnel and at the same time building up to a regular peacetime naval strength of 2SOO. At a later date the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service Avas made a permanent branch of the Navy. The transition from war to peace has seen the Navy from one cruiser in commission to its present strength of one cruiser, five frigates and a surveying ship in full commission, besides numerous smaller and auxiliary craft and shore establishments.

The intricacies of a modern- Nai\y are numerous, technical and scientific advances call for more specialists, alid so men of high intelligence are required to-day to man a warship. The essential machinery armament and instruments in a modern ship of war has greatly complicated its construction.

The need for healthy conditions for personnel has remained paramount; thus accommodation and ship life are planned for the A\ r elfare of all on board.

The pay of Royal NeAV Zealand Navy is at a high rate, Avhilst a generous superannuation alloivance is an encouragement to the man Avho decides to make the Navy his career. Leave arrangements are designed to compensate the sailor for the long absences from home enforced by his duties. To-day in the Royal New Zealand Navy rapid promotion and in fact the higher ranks of the service are open to the man of initiative, intelligence and determination, who appreciates the importance of service to his Country.

Peacetime Duties

With flie increase in strength of the Navy the Royal New Zealand Navy has been able to carry out a great variety of peacetime duties; last year; for instance, saw His Majesty’s New Zealand ships slioav the flag to New Zealand visit 60 odd Pacific islands, carry out squadron exercises, visit Australia and Tasmanian ports, do combined exercises in Australian Avaters, service meteorological stations on islands throughout the Pacific, commence surveying in Nervy Zealand Avaters, and generally traversed the Pacific Ocean from the sub-Antarctic in the south to just north of the Equator and from Australia in the Avest to Tahiti in the east.

Planning is advanced for the Navy to carry out similar operations this year, besides two frigates doing a sixmonths’ tour of duty in the Mediterranean. To maintain a rvorkable manning strength and to alloAV for retirements and increasing commitments, recruiting of men and Avomen for naval service is continuous.

The Navy is a self-contained organisation, and, consequently requires personnel trained in a Avlde variety of trades or vocations. Technical and educational training is gir r en to personnel to qualify them as a seaman, stoker-mechanic, electrician, sick-berth attendant, Avriters (clerks), stores assistant, cooks, steAvards, signalman, telegraphist, Avhile persons qualified are required as engineroom, electrical and ordinance artificers, ship\A r rights, joiners, plumbers, blacksmiths and painters. There arc A’acancies in the Women’s Royal NeAV Zealand Naval service in the A’drious shore base administrative departments,-including clerical, transport, stores, communications, medical, cookery and steward branches. The Naval Recruiting Board, led by. Commander C. C. Stevens, R.N.Z.N., and including 2nd Officer L. H. Corbin, W.R.N.Z.N.S., is at present touring NeAV Zealand, and will be Adsiting Ashburton on Saturday morning. Members of the Board Avill be pleased to intervieAv and personally advise parents of intending recruits in the Borough Council Chambers.