NAVAL AFFAIRr OFFICER

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 8

NAVAL AFFAIR r OFFICER

MR S. R. SKINNER VISITS NEW ZEALAND MANY YEARS IN OFFICE OP HIGH COMMISSIONER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December » Although he has served New Zaland’s interests in London for 42yem and was attached to the New Zealand S forces in the Great War, it was not until this morning that Mr S. R. Skin, net, Naval Affairs Officer in the offia | of the New Zealand High Commitsioner in London, first set foot in this country. He is here to discus with thi r New Zealand Naval Board the work in London during the transition | from war to peace. Mr Skinner joined the High Commissioner’s office in 1905, when it wa controlled by an agent-general, sni from 1919 to 1939 was chief clerk Since 1920 he has also been the re sponsible official for naval work, the duties of which increased tremen dously during the war, when he ah« had charge of Army and Air Fora work. Demobilisation of New Zealant naval personnel in England wa practically complete except for a fa men still serving in Royal Navy mine Bl sweepers who had volunteered to cam u. on. said Mr Skinner. New Zealand House had bee! pe bombarded with inquiries iron would-be immigrants, he said, bu A although they were given all the b G formation available they could no C really be offered much encourage T ment because of the bottleneck < J. shipping and because of the Dornin ion housing situation. The Australian South African, and Canadian authori ties were also in the same position.