Next Frigate Could Have S.I. Name

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 14

Next Frigate Could Have S.I. Name

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Jan. 22. New Zealand's newest anti-submarine frigate ordered in principle by the Government, may carry a South Island name. The permission of the Royal Navy will have to be obtained first. The names Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough have been mentioned as likely choices if the new ship is named after one of New Zealand’s provinces. Otago and Taranaki were two of the original provinces under the Act of 1852, but Waikato has never reached provincial status (except in Rugby union). The decision to name the ship rests with the Government. It could even commemorate a vessel famous in New Zealand history—but this would also be subject to the approval of the British Admiralty. There would be no difficulty, it is understood, in having a Royal Navy name released for New Zealand. This was done with the Philomel before World War 1, when the old cruiser of that name was goven to New Zealand.

The name Canterbui-y has been in the Royal Navy since

1692. The last vessel of that name was a crusier built in 1915 and scrapped in 1934. Seven Royal Navy ships have been called Nelson. The last, a battleship built in 1925, was broken up in 1949. The name Marlborough (named for the original John Churchill) has been used seven times, five times for battleships. ' There was a Marlborough in the line at Jutland, as well as an Iron Duke. The name was applied to the World War II torpedo school at Eastbourne college, which closed in 1947.