RECRUITING OF SEA CADETS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 3

RECRUITING OF SEA CADETS

TRAINING FACILITIES IMPOSE LIMIT

STATEMENT BY CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF

(New Zealand Press Association) , AUCKLAND, April 17. Before the Sea Cadet Corps can be expanded, the strength of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve must be increased, and this in turn must wait for the growth of the Royal New Zealand Navy itself. Commodore Sir Charles Madden, the Chief of the Naval Staff, said this when addressing Auckland units of the Sea Cadet Corps on Saturday. Sir Charles Madden said a national corps of 5000 was the aim, but membership would have to be kept down to a number for which the Navy could provide regular instructors and a reasonable amount of sea training and annual camps. Since its reorganisation three years ago, Sir Charles Madden said, the corps had improved greatly, and was now firmly established. There were now 450 cadets in 15 school units throughout New Zealand, and 500 in “open” units. The corps was flourishing, he said, and the school units in particular could not cope with the number of boys wanting to become cadets. Every endeavour would be made to have cadets trained in ships and shore establishments. Sir Charles Madden said he hoped it would be possible to send some cadets to this year’s Empire Sea Cadet camp in Australia.