N Z. NAVAL STATION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1928, Page 3

N Z. NAVAL STATION

COMMODORE’S ANNUAL REPORT,

WELLINGTON, Aug. 7 The provision of an additional vessel for naval training purposes is advocated by the Commodore commanding the New Zealand Naval Station. In his annual report to Parliament to-day, Commodore G. T. O. P. Swabey states that it will be difficult for H.M.T.S. Amokura alone to cope with the training of the Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury Itoyal Naval Reserve, Class D. divisions, and it will lie necessary

in the near future to make provision

for other vessels. These would also form the nucleus of a mine sweeping service and enable a thorough system of mine sweeping instruction to be carried out throughout the Dominion. “The training of recruits and the depot ship’s work carried out in H.M.S. Philomel have continued,” says the report, “very satisfactorily under the command of Commander F. C. Bradley, It.N. I consider that H.M.S. Philomel is unsuitable as a training ship, ow'ing to her age and that she should be replaced by a shore establishment as -soon as practicable, and plans for this are under consideration.” The report also says that there are at present 351 active service ratings who have been recruited in New Zealand serving in the New Zealand division. Recruiting for the division lias continued to be satisfactory during the year. Fory-sevcn seamen boys, nine stokers, and eight miscellaneous ratings have boon entered in New Zealand. So far as seamen boys and stokers are concerned there is no shortage of applicants, and it is possible to select the liest. The number of artisan and artificer candidates is, however, not so satisfactory and there is inclined to be an insufficiency ol competent and experienced workmen. ’lbis is doubtless due to the; opportunities which are open to skilled men on shore. During the year twenty-two ratings of various classes have been sent to England for specialist courses in the Imperial training establishments to be followed in most cases by a period of sea-going training in battleships of the fleet. During the refit of cruisers at Home), every effort is made to release as many of the New Zealand men n.s passiblo from ship duties in order to enable them to go though short courses of instruction at the naval technical schools as this instruction cannot ho given on the station. The importance of these courses cannot be appraised too highly and the results arc extremely satisfactory. The health and discipline of the ship’s companies have been excellent..

Discussing training Commodore Swnbey says it is hoped that in the future combined operations with the Army may be possible.