N.Z. naval men ‘scrounging’ to make good impressions

Press, 29 April 1987, Page 11

N.Z. naval men ‘scrounging’ to make good impressions

PA Wellington . Naval officers have had to scrounge goods from companies to enable them to make a good impression on their hosts while their two frigates are overseas, the “New Zealand Herald” reports. The Canterbury and the Southland will spend more than four months

away on the Navy’s first visit to China and on a rare call to Korea. . Apart from exercising with the other navies along the way, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s main reason for visiting China is public relations, the “Herald" reports, but the defence budget does not seem to stretch to that

sort of task. The officers expect to have to repay hospitality they will receive ashore by inviting dignitaries on board. To do that properly and to promote New Zealand they have been approaching companies to give foods which are disunctively New Zealand. The producer boards

showed little -interest in the deployment, but a small lamb-exporting company and a cheese producer -came to the party, and -the wine institute “touched” wine com* panies for supplies. The master of the Canterbury, Commander John Grenville, confirmed : that his men had had their hands out: “If we don’t want to, scrounge, we go away empty.” From a military viewpoint, exercising along the way with vessels from Australia, Singapore and Malayasia would be the most valuable activity. “In Korea and China, the only exercise will be in public relations — I don't expect them to have arranged any naval exercises,” Commander Grenville said. The master receives an entertainment allowance of about $7 a day while away from New Zealand; the ship’s officers a few cents. Anything above that spent on guests comps out of their own pockets. The Canterbury and the - Southland have $l5O between them for this trip with which to buy other gifts, usually to reciprocate gifts received from guests..