NEW ZEALAND NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 26, 30 July 1941, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND NAVY

FORWARD POLICY

MINISTER'S FRANK STATEMENT

COUNTRY'S DEFENCE

A frank review of the work of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy was given in the House of Representatives last night by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones). All possible steps had been taken for the defence of the country, he said, and generally a forward policy was being pursued. The Minister reviewed naval expenditure, as set out in the Budget, and gave details of the protection provided for the Dominion against attacks from the sea. The New Zealand NavaJ Forces now consisted of the cruisers Leander and Achilles, the armed merchant cruiser Monowai, the Government vessel Matai, and three • other vessels, the Gale, the Rata. and the Muritai> which had been converted to minesweepers, together with auxiliary minesweepers and a large number of motor-launches for patrol duties, he said. In addition to these, the three speci-ally-designed minesweeping and antisubmarine vessels, which had been approved before the war to be built in Scotland as a training flotilla, were nearing completion, and would arrive in New Zealand waters Before the end of the year. Nine steel minesweepers, which would also be equipped for anti-sub-marine operations, were being built in, New Zealand. Two vessels had been taken up as danlayers to operate, with the minesweepers, and a flotilla of vessels to counter any menace by magnetic mines was being formed. Three composite steel and wood trawlers were also being built and a number of other additions were planned. FORWARD POLICY. A forward policy of naval defence was being pursued, the Minister. said, and the Government was in constant touch with the United Kingdom and other units of the British Commonwealth regarding measures that would be necessary in the event of the war extending to the Far East and the Pacific. The Government's principal naval adviser, Commodore W. E. Parry. C.8., had paid a number of visits beyond New Zealand to. attend conferences which had given encouraging results. New Zealand also had a naval liaison officer at Singapore and another attached to the New Zealand Supply Mission in Washington. The Minister said that there were now 349 officers and 3834 ratings serving at home and overseas, compared with 82 officers and 1257 ratings before the outbreak of war. Fortysix officers and 198 men of the Mercantile Marine were included in the present strength, and 26 officers and 221 ratings of the Royal Navy had been able to return home as they were replaced by New Zealanders. There had been a good response to naval recruiting, and there were 2402 candidates awaiting entry. RECRUITS FOR ROYAL NAVY. Recruiting for the Royal Navy had |also been carried out and under five I schemes 33 yachtmasters had been sent Home as probationary temporary, sub-lieutenants, 32 had been recruited; for service in Malaya with the same rank, and 194 ordinary seamen who] would have opportunities of advancement, 378 naval airmen, and 80 technical and. communication ratings had been enrolled. Very encouraging reports had. been received regarding 'these men from naval authorities overseas, and the New Zealand R.N.V.R. had already, been honoured by one officer receiving the D.S.O. and by two others receiving the D.S.C. A development in the training of New i Zealanders for the Royal Navy was the establishment of H.M.S. Tamaki as a training base, where 600 men would [be trained annuallyWhile he could not be expected to give much information about seagoing ships, said the Minister, he could assure the House that the cruisers were occupied in the most effective manner with the protection of shipping, and the mine-sweepers were equally busy in ensuring that J the entrances to ports were clear. The results had justified the' dcci- 1 sion to take up certain coastal vessels for naval purposes. Provision had also been made for the laying of defensive minefields. NAVAL BASE EXPANSION. After giving details of the expansion of the naval base at Auckland, the Minister said that the work done there had enabled H.M.S. Leander to be refitted in New Zealand instead of having to go to Britain, and when the Achilles came back from the Battle of the River Plate with some damage the necessary repairs were also carried out. Although the New Zealanders engaged on the work were not as experienced as those in Britain they had done a splendid job and'were entitled to the thanks of the people of the country.

Oil fuel was still obtained under arrangements made by the Admiralty and supplies were satisfactory. The quantity used was, of course, large, and to meet requirements and provide an adequate reserve additional tankage had been hired at Auckland and a large new tank was approaching completion at Wellington.

In addition to purely naval activities, the naval authorities also superintended the defensive equipment of merchant ships and their repairs and

refits, the Minister said. This work was growing in magnitude and importance, and consequently the Government had appointed a Ship Building and Repairs Committee which would attend to this work and also to shipbuilding in New Zealand.