NAVAL SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 135, 8 June 1940, Page 10

NAVAL SERVICES.

FITTING OUT MONOWAI

INCREASE IN RATINCS

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, this day.

Mention of the tittinj out of t.ie requisitioned vessel Monowai as an armed merchant cruiser, is made \>y Commodore W. E. Parry, thief of the Naval Staff, in his report for the year ended March 31. which was presented in the House yesterday by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The report stated tnat good probers had been made with the work, which is being done at the dockyard, but delays have occurred owing to the non-arrival of essential equipment and the refitting of H.M.S Achilles and Leaiider earlier than was anticipated. After referring to the withdrawal from the New Zealand station of H.M.S. Wellington, Leith and Endeavour, Commodore Parry states that H.M.S. Hector, an armed merchant cruiser, has been allocated to the station. The report says that on March 31, 1940, there were 12 officers and 801 ratings on the active list, all of whom, except 16, had been entered or recruited in New Zeal.ind. The overall increase of New Zealand ratings during the year was 118. Ships' companies were completed bv "0 officers and 531 ratings lent from the Royal Navy. entered during the year, included 39 boys and 34-sliort service seamen for the seaman and communiciation branclips. The position in regard to miscellaneous ratings had never been very satisfactory, "but a substantial improvement had been attained, there being 38 entries against the 16 the year before.