Naval Members’ Last Visit

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 18

Naval Members’ Last Visit

For the first time in his sei-vice career there was a bright light for defence on the horizon, said Commodore B. E. Turner, Second Member of the Naval Board, in Christchurch last evening.

“We have a forward-look-ing White Paper on Defence and for the first time the people of New Zealand are behind the services and their need for modern equipment,” he told members of the Canterbury Division of the R.N.Z.N.V.R. at H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus last evening. If they were to prepare their nation, the military forces had to sound a serious note and this the White Paper

had done. “In fact, we have newspaper leaders behind us,” said Commodore Turner. Britain also had produced a White Paper on defence and one of the things it contained was the suggestion that if the Malaysian-Indonesian confrontation eased, Britain would withdraw from the area and new defence agreements would have to be negotiated. “So it looks as if it will be up to Australia and New Zealand to play a greater role in South-east Asia,” he said. “The British have been in New Zealand for 100 years. How long we stay here will largely depend on people like you.” Commodore Turner said many young reservists wondered why they were in uniform and if it was all worth while. “You have a very fine headquarters in H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus. You have produced two chiefs of naval staff. That surely is enough to be considered a matter of pride. “When inspecting officers come round you may wonder what it is we are looking for. Well, we look for the outward evidence of the pride you have in your division. As I walked around tonight I saw evidence of this. The Canterbury division shows every indication of more than maintaining the high traditions it has inherited,” he said. Earlier Commodore Turner inspected an honour guard and the ship’s company of about 820 ratings and 20 officers at divisions. It was Commodore Turner’s farewell visit to the Canterbury division. He is almost the last of the early reservists who attained high rank in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

The parade was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander J. F. Allan.