THE ROYAL NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 125, 22 November 1935, Page 12

THE ROYAL NAVY

NEW ZEALAND'S SHIELD

ADDRESS BY COMMODORE

New Zealand's dependence on the British Navy was emphasised to the boys of Wellington College today by Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drummond, M.V.0., R.N., Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Station of the Royal Navy. Commodore Drummond's address was given under the auspices of the Navy League, and at its conclusion he presented to a large number of boys souvenirs and long-service badges.

After commending the Navy League for the valuable assistance it rendered to the Navy, and referring with regret to the death of Earl Jellicoe, Commodore Drummond described the activities of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The two cruisers here, he said, were lent by the Admiralty but maintained by New Zealand. Preparations were now being made for the replacement of the Dunedin and the Diomede by two vessels of the Leander type, which carried a heavier armament and had a much longer range of action. The two cruisers at present on the New Zealand station were manned by New Zealand and English ratings, in about equal proportions, but it was hoped to increase the New Zealand proportion until it reached almost 100 per cent. There would always be a certain number of Imperial ratings in the crew, however, because of the exchange system. This was considered a good thing, as it gave the ratings an opportunity to gain experience of other parts of the world and other classes of ships.

A lot of people, said the Commodore, were asking what was the use of a couple of warships in New Zealand if they were going to be taken away at any sign of trouble. The reason was that New Zealand supported the Empire and depended on the Empire. It was on the main fleet that the security of the Empire depended, and as long as the main fleet remained intact New Zealand was free from invasion. New Zealand contributed to and supported the Empire Navy because a small local navy would be useless.