NEW ZEALAND NAVY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11325, 1 October 1930, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NAVY

reserve system to be extended to coastal towns INCREASING POPULARITY OF THE SERVICE. (Press Association.) ■ WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. Rcplviirg to questions raised dur- • in e consideration of the estimate of £450 000 for- naval defence, the lion. J G Gobbc said it was necessary for New Zealand warships to go home periodically for repairs. This work could not all be done-nr New Zealand and, the Minister added, the vessels went to Britain from all parts of the world for this purpose. Replying to, Mr. Eraser (L.) the Minister stated, that increase in the estimated expenditure .for this A « j r Was largely duo to tlic fact Oiat many of last year’s items had been carried oyer. - - ; . " , The Minister, replying to Mr. Barnard, said ihere were at present 600 men enrolled in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. • _ While tlieio were companies only in four main centres at present, it was proposed that the system should later he extended to the smaller coastal towns. Replying to the Hull. W. Dowriio Stewart, Mr. Cobbe said naval service , was becoming very popular among the young men of New Zealand. Since the inception of the arrangement, 619 men had .enrolled, and there , wore 371 serving at present. The idea was. to keep the ratio of'New Zealanders in our naval forces at approximately 50 per cent. ' The vote; wms passed.