SPECIALIST OFFICERS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29336, 15 October 1960, Page 14

SPECIALIST OFFICERS

Minister’s Reply “Evasive” The Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) had not answered his criticism of the shortage of specialist officers In the Royal New Zealand Navy, Mr A. R Mackay, vice-president of ’ the Canterbury Navy League, said last evening. Mr Connolly’s reply had been couched in evasive terms and made no mention of specialist officers, Mr Mackay said. "I said that the Navy requires 46 specialist officers as a minimum number to fill appointments m the ships and shore establishments,” he continued. “I said that tiie Royal New Zealand Navy has 23 officers with training in the five specialist branches of the service available for these appointments. Mr Connolly gave no reply to these figures.” The Minister might be able to do two or even three jobs at once, Mr Mackay said. “But I defy a naval gunnery officer to double up as a navigating officer at one and the same time. I think juy adjective ’disastrous’ would results descriptdv ® word the

h “r 2° n , n ?2 ly used the r ed year more than . been allocated for overseas training for naval officers and ratings. I- specifically stated is P to^ t °® cers -’ My estimate A L2? kes two years and a n? _ tr ?. ln a specialist officer. ~n * *’’, ort . lon 01 016 £105,000 allocated is actually used for SiTS 91 offlcer training it will still be near the end of 1963 before these officers will be avail-