MOTOR BOAT PATROL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 7

MOTOR BOAT PATROL.

COMMANDER ARMSTRONG'S MISSION.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 26. " I am having a very fair response to my call for officers and men for the patrol," said Commander Armstrong to a reporter to-day. " Applications are coming in day by day, and I think the prospects look very promising. Of-course, 1 nave not had time to interview many people yet and to find how far their qualifications .are sufficient, but I propose to start off soon to the various centres in order to interview applicants on the spot. That is my general system. I shall probably • go to Auckland first and then come back to Wellington to deal with peoplo 1 have secured here. Afterwards I shall go to other centres in both islands. It depends, of course, very much on the applications received. The Government, 1 i..ay say, is treating me most kindly and giving me every assistance. Besides dealing with applications I am arranging also in regard to the medical examination of applicants, means for th-ir transport to the Old Country, etc " I think, perhaps, it would help me in my work if you were to lay stress on the fact that I am really recruiting two classes of men. First. I want the amateur yachtsman, of good education • and many years of experience afloat. Ho will be given a commission and employed on deck in the motor patrol vessels. The second class I want is the * professional mechanic, who, must be a really skilled man. He is required for sngine-room duties, for which an amateur mechanic is not sufficiently experienced. For this second clas3 previous seagoing experience is not essential.'