Economy Drive By New Zealand Navy

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28559, 12 April 1958, Page 14

Economy Drive By New Zealand Navy

A drive to reduce expenditure was taking place in the New Zealand Navy, the Chief of the Naval Steiff (Rear-Admiral J. M. Villiers) said in Christchurch last evening. Admiral Villiers said the Government was setting an example by cutting its spending, and some of the cuts were falling on the armed services.

In the Navy, the economy drive was being felt most acutely in overseas training. Fewer officers and ratings would go on special courses outside New Zealand. This would be a saving of their passages and the cost of maintaining them abroad. As much of their training as possible would now be done in the Dominion.

In addition, the Navy was cutting down in its use of stores and making other economies.

Asked whether the drive would mean less sea time for operational ships, Admiral Villiers thought for a few moments, and then replied: “I hope not.” He said that the present numbers of men in the Navy were below strength. This was not a problem peculiar to the Navy, it was a national malaise. The greatest shortage was of electrical engineers. The modern navy relied on electricity and electronics, and skilled men were needed to handle the equipment. , Admiral Villiers said he thought there would be enough men available to man the new Whitby class frigates due for delivery in 1960. The Loch class frigates which the Whitbys would replace would go into operational reserve. There were no plans for scrapping them. Northern War Threat There were harbour defences in reserve for use in an emergency “at certain harbours.” “But the Navy endeavours to defend as far away as possible, and threats to New Zealand are mostly from the north,” he said. He discounted a war threat from

the south. “The Navy is the most mobile of all the services, and will adjust according to the threat,, but I think an enemy will be much more likely to be preoccupied with attacking from the north. The Antarctic is not the most fascinating place for a base,” he said. Polar Plans Admiral Villiers said the Navy had plans for. the employment of its polar supply ship Endeavour if it was required at the end of the International Geophysical Year commitments next season. Activities in the Ross Dependency were- under review by the Government, but no decisions had been matte so that the Navy would know whether its plans could be employed. . Captain H. Kirkwood, the captain of the Endeavour, was on loan from the Royal Navy to the end of the year. His future had not been decided.

Referring to a report that the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Woodbourne, had been suggested as the Navy training establishment when relinquished by the Air Force, Admiral Villiers said: “Before the Navy planned moving from Tamaki to Northcote it looked for possible sites, and I think Woodbourne was considered with lots of others.”

Last evening Admiral Villiers inspected the headquarters of the Canterbury division of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus, and met officers and chief petty officers of the ship’s company. Today he will review a parade of the ship’s company in Cranmer square, and will return to Wellington, accompanied by Mrs Villiers, on Monday.