FRIGATE'S BADGE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31762, 20 August 1968, Page 1

FRIGATE'S BADGE

Every secondary school pupil in Canterbury wiD be given the opportunity in the third term to design the badge which may be carried by the new Royal New Zealand Navy frigate Canterbury.

The Resident Naval Officer at H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus (Lieutenant - Commander V. W. Fifield) will visit every school in the province to explain the competition. Yesterday, with Commander W. J. L. Smith, of the Navy Office, he called on the Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning) to convey the hopes of the Naval Board that Canterbury will take a keen personal interest in “Canterbury’s own frigate,” starting with the schools. Commander Smith is hydrographer in the Navy Office and his section became involved in the badge design competitions because of its staff of cartographers. The frigates Otago, Taranaki, and Waikato carry the badges illustrated, which were each designed by school pupils. The Otago's crook and clay-

more symbolise pastoral industry and Scottish fighting tradition. Subsequently, a pioneer family gave a crook and Sir Bernard Fergusson gave a claymore which both hang in the Otago’s wardroom.

The Taranaki inevitably has Mount Egmont with a lighthouse superimposed. The Waikato’s symbol is the taniwha, the spirit which, legend says, came from the rivers to aid local tribes. Commander Smith emphasised that for the Canterbury a truly provincial symbol was wanted. It should represent the whole province and not Christchurch alone. For this reason all pupils had the chance to make an original contribution.

Individual (not school) designs were wanted. The win-

net would have a day at sea in the new ship when the Canterbury arrived, receive a replica of the badge adopted, and other recognition. The Canterbury is scheduled to be ready for sea trials in October, 1971, and to arrive in New Zealand early in 1972. “But now the frigate has been ordered, Canterbury interest should quicken,” said Commander Smith.

Even selection of the badge would take time, so it was intended to give entrants in the competition until early next year to prepare their designs. Lieutenant Commander Fifield would take to the schools full details of the competition and badge blanks within which local symbols could be arranged.