N.Z. NAVAL FORCES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1940, Page 10

N.Z. NAVAL FORCES

| OFFICERS FOR LONG SERVICE. 1 [per press association.] WELLINGTON, September 16. The Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) recalled in a statement, to-day, the announcement he made on June 10 last, inaugurating the scheme for the entry of young New Zealanders as officers in the Executive, Engineering and Accountant Branches of the New Zealand Naval Forces. Mr. Jones recalled the fact that he had announced that there would be two candidates required this year for each branch. “It was not to be expected,” said Mr. Jones, “that in the short time between the announcement and the date when applications had to be sent in, there would be very many candidates who would have been in a position to take the examination, as the syllabus is a stiff one and undoubtedly requires special preparation. When the applications were received, it was found that there were very few qualified for consideration, and in the result no candidate was able to satisfy the examiners and the Interview Board that he attained the standard required.for acceptance as Cadet or Cadet (E), and only one candidate was accepted for Probationary Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant. It has, therefore, been decided to accept further applications for this year’s entry which must reach the Naval Secretary, Navy Office, Wellington, by September 30.

THE CONDITIONS. “Successful candidates will be entered as Cadets, Cadets (E) and Probationary Paymaster Sub-Lieuten-ants, according to the branch chosen. Candidates for entry as Cadets must be between the ages of 17 years and 18 years 8 months; for entry as Cadets (E) between the ages of 17 and 19 years; and for entry as Probationary Paymaster Sub-Lieutenants between the ages of 19 and 24 years; in all cases on December 31 next. Candidates must be British subjects of pure European descent, and the sons of persons who are British subjects at time of entry. They must be unmarried. Candidates for entry as Cadet or Cadet (E) must have passed the University Entrance Examination of New Zealand or the School Certificate Examination, and further must have studied at a higher standard, especially in mathematics and science. They will be required to appear before an Interview Board, pass a medical examination, and undergo an educational examination. “In addition, candidates from the civilian apprentices at the naval dockyard at Devonpcrt, Auckland, will be eligible for consideration for entry as Cadets (E), but will not have to undergo the entrance examination. “CandidatesHor Probationary Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant will be required to appear before an Interview Board, pass a medical examination, and undergo an educational examination unless they hold the degree of Bachelor of Laws or Bachelor of Commerce or have passed the accountants’ professional examination. “Cadets may rise to the ranks of Commander and Captain, and command His Majesty’s ships of the New Zealand Naval Forces. Cadets (E) may rise to. the rank of Commander (E) and serve as engineer officers of His Majesty’s, ships, and to Captain (E) and hold high administrative I posts. . , • ' ' ’ ■ 1 “Probationary Paymaster SubLieutenants may rise to the ranks of Paymaster Commander and Paymaster Captain, and hold high administra-

tive posts. (It may not be generally realised that officers of this branch deal with a wide variety of administrative duties, including not only pay, but stores and victualling, and secretarial, staff, and personal duties). “All officers on entry will be sent to England for training with the Royal Navy; executive cadets for about three years, two of which, preceded by a term at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, they will spend with the sea-goirig fleets. During this period they will be promoted successively to Midshipman and Acting Sub-Lieu-tenant Cadets (E) for about four years, during which they will become Midshipmen" (E) and Acting SubLieutenant (E); Probationary Paymaster Sub-Lieutenants for six months.

SPECIALISATION COURSES “Executive Officers, during their time in the rank of Lieutenant, will be eligible for selection to proceed to England to undergo courses for specialisation in gunnery, torpedo, navigation, etc., and officers of all branches will be eligible for consideration to undergo higher courses of instruction in England. In addition, all officers will be liable to be exchanged with officers of the Imperial Navy, so that the New Zealand officers can be kept in touch with the latest naval developments. “The pay of a Cadet is 5/- a day, rising, to 11/- for Sub-Lieutenants and to from 16/6 to 22/- for Lieutenants, then by a gradually ascending scale to Commanders £l/18/- to £2 13/6), and Captains £2/18/- to £3 13/-). Cadets (E) start at 5/- a day, but receive slightly higher rates up to and including the rank of Commander (E); then as to Executive Captains. Probationary Paymaster SubLieutenants commence at 9/- a day, rise to 11/- and to from 16/6 to 22/for Paymaster Lieutenants, then by a gradually ascending scale to Paymaster Commanders (£l/18/- to £2 12/6), and Paymaster Captains (£2 13/- to £3/8/-). In addition, all officers earn deferred pay ranging from 2/- a day for Sub-Lieutenants to 9/6 a day for Captains, which accumulates at compound interest, and is payable on retirement or resignation after the age of 40, invaliding out of the Service, or on death. Marriage allowance and children’s allowances are payable after the age of 25, at the daily rates of 4/6, plus 2/- for the first and 1/- for each subsequent child. “Passage to England and return are paid by the Government,” concluded Mr. Jones. “Some slight financial assistance must be given by the parents of Cadets, but SubLieutenants are able to live on their pay. There are no tuition fees for the training given. Parents must provide the initial outfit, towards which a liberal grant is made, and Cadets and Cadets (E) receive a further grant for the purchase of uniform on reaching the rank of Sub-Lieutenant.”

Full particulars may be obtained on application to the Naval Secretary, Wellington.