NAVAL FORCES
DOMINION'S NEEDS
MINISTER'S STATEMENT
*■ The Dominion's requirements in the way of officers and men for naval ser- * vice were outlined by the Minister of ' Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in a statement made last night. He said that machinery existed for calling up all men likely to be required, and if any further men were needed an announcement would be made. Officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserves and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves of the Imperial Navy and of the New Zealand Naval Forces (including officers whose names are on the retired list): —These 'are jeing called up as and when required by means of a personal summons. Till they receive such a summons they should continue in their normal occupations and take no other action whatever except to report their name and address to the Director of Naval Reserves, Navy Office, Wellington, by letter, if not already done, or to report any change of address. This re|port of address is not required from J members of the Royal Naval VolunIteer Reserve (New Zealand Division) . j Retired Officers of the Royal Navy, pensioners and R.F.R. men of the Navy:—These will also be called up if and when required in a similar manner, that is. by personal summons. In due course those not required for service in the New Zealand Naval Forces will be placed at the disposal of the British Admiralty and will be sent to England or elsewhere as the Admiralty may direct. Till they receive instructions they should take no action whatever beyond reporting their address, if not already done, or reporting any change of address, to the Director of Naval Reserves, Navy Office, Wellington. Ex-Royal Navy ratings, not pensioners and not R.F.R. men:—There is "at present no service for which such men can be re-entered, but the iiaval authorities are well aware that there exists in New Zealand a .arge body of these trained naval personnel, and they realise that the men are keen to offer their services. Should there be an opportunity to enter some of these men, an announcement will be made I when the time arrives. When New Zealand requix*ements have" been settled the naval authorities in New Zealand intend to inquire from the British Admiralty whether it desires the remainder, if volunteers, to be sent to England or elsewhere for service in the' Imperial Navy. In the meantime these men should continue in their ordinary occupations unless they wish to volunteer for military service, which they are quite free to do Yachtsmen and ex-Mercantile Marine Officers—The British Admiralty has asked for volunteers from among yachtsmen and ex-Mercantile Marine officers for commissions in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. (This request is referred to in Mr. Fraser's statement published elsewhere in this issue.) Other Persons Wishing to Undertake Naval Service.—So far as can be foreseen at present all the naval requirements for the defence of the Dominion can be met from the established naval reserves and perhaps from a few of the ex-naval men resident in New Zealand, and it is not anticipated that there will be any question of recruiting other men for naval war service. The ordinary peacetime recruiting for the New Zealand Naval Forces (that is, for long service irrespective of the duration of the war) will be continued, and announcement will be made from time to time in the usual way; applications should be made to H.M.S. Philomel, Auckland, or to the nearest Defence Office, but only by men wishing to join the Navy for long service. , "The Naval Department is working at very high pressure, aiid the naval authorities, therefore, hope that the public will be good enough to refrain from writing to offer their services," said Mr. Jones. "As explained above, machinery exists for calling up all men likely to be required, and ■if any further men are required an announcement will be made."
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 72, 22 September 1939, Page 9
Word Count
648NAVAL FORCES Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 72, 22 September 1939, Page 9
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