ROLE OF NAVY IN NUCLEAR WAR

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 2

ROLE OF NAVY IN NUCLEAR WAR

ISLAND COUNTRY’S NEEDS

SIR CHARLES MADDEN’S VIEWS

(New Zealand Press ssociation) WELLINGTON, February 4. In spite of the advent of nuclear weapons and the power of the Allies, New Zealand, as an island country, could not exist in war time without a navy to protect ships approaching and leaving the Dominion. This statement was made today by the chief of Naval Staff (Commodore Sir Charles Madden), speaking at the opening of a new Navy recruiting shop in Wellington. Commodore Madden, who will shortly return to a Royal Navy post, said: “If we are to have this Navy when war breaks out we must man, maintain and train it in peace.” The New Zealand Navy was a young service in the process of building up to its target peace-time strength of 3500 men. “So far we have about 2500 men; but our building up has stopped during the last year as we are only getting just enough recruits to replace normal wastage due to retirement of men. “It is therefore of great importance to us to improve our recruiting. In their report to Parliament for last year the New Zealand Naval Board said our recruiting methods were under review and might be changed in the near future.” The recruiting shops being established were being manned by experienced chief petty officers with many years’ service in the New Zealand Navy. Much of the naval recruiter’s duty was to ensure that a lad seeking a career in the Navy “will be a round peg in a round hole,” said Commodore Madden.