PROUD OF COMMAND

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1932, Page 7

PROUD OF COMMAND

EEAE-ADMIRAL'S THANKS. | LOYAL SEE VICE PEAISED. j NEW ZEALAND’S NAVY. | (Special to '‘Northern Advocate.”') AUCKLAND, This Day. Today, by the Aorangi, Ecar-Admiral Geoffrey Blake will return to England in order to take up the post of Fourth Sea Lord at the Admiralty. It/ is with genuine regret that ho leaves the shores of New Zealand, and yesterday ho made the following statement: — “In giving up command in the New Zealand station, I iiud it very hard to convey to all my good friends throughout the Dominion my warm thanks and appreciation for the warm-hearted kindness and hospitality which have been extended to me. In my official 1 capacity, the civic authorities and harbour boards have welcomed my flagship : in all the ports which I have Aisited. The people from the surrounding dis- ! triets have shown their appreciation of 1 the Navy and their pride in the New ' Zealand Division by the number who ' have visited the ships. I “Having regarded it from every '• angle, I am (irmly convinced that the contribution which the people of New i Zealand gave to the Imperial naval : defence was not, only sound and coon- I omieal, but best suited to the needs of i this Dominion. This organisation, has- i ed on the advice given by Lord -Telli- t coe, aims at developing a sea sense in ' the youth of the country. At the p>re- <■

sent lime 60 per cent, of the personnel who man the Xew Zealand Division are jvoung Xew Zealanders. They have'Ishown that they aye fully capable of I rising to the standard which is expect]otl in the Royal Navy. It has been a Igreat pride and pleasure to me to command them, and- they have given me on all occasions by their loyal service a feeling of confidence and. reliance. “I wish also to mention the Royal Xaval Volunteer Reserve organisations. These have been steadily built up by the untiring voluntary efforts of their oliicers to a high state of efficiency’. They are keen and well-disciplined and in every way a great asset to the Dominion. “The future security and prosperity of Xew Zealand, as with the British Kmpire as a whole, must depend largely on naval defence. In this connectlion the work which the Xavy League ■ carries out in Xew Zealand, particularly in the school branches, is of the greatest value, bringing home to the - youth of the Dominion the value of the ' N r avy. I can only hope that the pre : sent policy of maintaining the Xew Zealand Division will be further de- ’ veloped, so that ultimately practically ■ the whole of the personnel will be New Zealanders. “I leave Xew Zealand with a feeling that I am leaving a home ■ away from home. Tt will always be my endeavour, in whatever future position I may occupy, to represent the views, the aspirations and ‘ the intense loyalty of this fine country where I have spent ’so many happy-’ days.” .