MINESWEEPERS FOR N.Z.
MANNING DIFFICULTY SEEN (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. March 6. The Royal New Zealand Navy does not have enough ratings to man the four minesweepers which the Australian Government is giving -it and maintain its existing establishment, said Captain A. E. T. Christie, Naval Officer-in-Charge at Auckland, to-day. The gift was announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) last night, who said that the ships would be sailed to New Zealand by New Zealand crews. The ships are expected to need between 320 and 360 men in peace-time so as to provide a crew of 80-odd for each ship. . Last October the Navy, with 2300 ratings, was reported to be 570 under strength. “It is obvious, therefore,” said Captain Christie, “that the Navy will either have to reorganise or increase its strength in order to man tne minesweepers." In the event of war the position would be different, for the Navv has sufficient reserves to man the fleet, he said. Captain Christie has previously advocated expanding New Zealand’s minesweeping potential. He says tha* the minesweepers the Navy has at present are much older and less suitable than the Australian ones.
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Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26674, 7 March 1952, Page 3
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193MINESWEEPERS FOR N.Z. Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26674, 7 March 1952, Page 3
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