THE NAVY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20025, 5 September 1930, Page 17

THE NAVY.

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION. COMMODORE'S ANNUALREPORT. [THB FBEIB Special Service.] WELLINGTON, September 4. According to the Officer Commanding the New Zealand Naval Station, Commodore Geoffrey Blake, whose annual report was presented to Parliament today, there were 380 ratings on the. active list on August 13th who had been recruited in the Dominion. Of these 289 were serving in ships in the New Zealand Division on the station, 45 were undergoing -training; in England, and 46 were serving in ships of the Imperial service in Home waters awaiting the return of H.M.S. Diomede to New Zealand. Naval Base. Reference is made in the report to H.M.S. Philomel, the obsolete warship at present housing trainees at the Davenport Naval Base, Auckland. Commodore Blake says that a site for the erection of barracks to replace the Philomel has been selected at Devonport above the oil tanks which are at the foot of the cliffs at the back of the naval yard. Seven sections have already been purchased, and at least two, and possibly four, sections, would be required to complete the site. Due to financial stringency it would not be possible to commence construction work before about June Ist, 1931. In view of the necessity for delaying construction. arrangements were being -made to carry out a survey of the Philomel to ascertain how long she could continue to act in her present capacity. It was considered she would probably be fit to continue for another two or three years provided a certain amount of repair work was done. Reserves. The following shows the state of the New Zealand Royal Naval Reserves on April Ist, 1930: Officers—Royal Naval Reserve, 8. Officers —Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 77. Men—R9yal Naval Reserve, Class A (active), men who have served in the Royal or any Dominion Navy, and who come up for periodical training, 73. Class A (inactive), men who have, been discharged from the sea-jjoing forces in New Zealand other than those joining Class A (active). These men are liable to be called up for naval service in the event of war within, ten years of discharge from the seagoing forces if not then over forty years of age. 150. Class B—Men who follow 'the sea as a profession in the mercantile marine or steam fishing vessels, 10. Class C—Men ineligible for Classes A or.B, 100. Class D (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) —Men eligible to join when a division is formed in any district where they may be living, 406. All ratings have carried out seven days' sea training either in one of H.M. cruisers or in H.M.S. Wakakura. Training. The report says that H.M.S. Wakakura made an extended cruise to the southern ports, commencing in January. Two officers and sixteen ratings of the R.N.V.R. were embarked at a time, and practical training given in gunI aery, mine Sweeping, and seamanship.

This training has proved to bo most valuable. In view of the very limited accommodation available in this ship the provision of a second training ship is becoming necessary, and this would also allow combined mine sweeping to be practised. Inspections of all four divisions have been made during the year. The training given is most-thorough and efficient, and the R.N.V.R. will be of great value in the local defence of .the Dominion.

In the combined naval and military operations at Akaroa in February, 1930, the R.N.V.R. training cutter Deveron, manned by officers and men of the Canterbury Division, took an active part in co-operation with H.M. ships, and proved the value of their training. It is hoped that in future operations of this nature the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve may be able to take a larger part.