N.Z. Navy Chief's Annual Report

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 8

N.Z. Navy Chief's Annual Report

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] WELLINGTON, Saturday.

Commodore H. E. Horan. Chief of the Naval Staff, in his report on the Now Zealand naval forces, presented to Parliament yesterday, states that a great deal has been done during the past year to implement the policy of consolidating the elements—such as repair, training and storing facilities—essential to effective progress in the evolution of a naval service. The report states that the administrative machine has been adjusted to meet the demand of a forward policy.

Progress Restriction

Progress is restricted in some directions by lack of qualified staff, but steps have been taken to build up the organisation on sound lines, by laying plans for the development of a post recruit-training, for the extension of recreation facilities, the reconstruction of the depot ship, the entry of officers, and for the appointment of a professional civilian staff,” the report states.

The ratings entered during the year included 44 boys and nine shortservice ordinary seamen for the seaman and communication branches, and 30 stokers and 16 ratings for miscellaneous branches, making a total of 99. *

Education,

Sixty-one New Zealand ratings took their discharge during the year. A large number of New Zealand ratings were sent to the schools of the Royal Australian Navy, and a very limited number to naval schools in the United Kingdom, for special courses of instruction in technical subjects. Careful consideration has been given to the question of entering New Zealand candidates for service as commissioned officers in the New Zealand naval forces. A policy has been worked out, and it is hoped that an announcement will be made in due course.

On March 31, 1939, there were seven officers and 688 ratings borne on the active list, all of whom, except 16, had been entered or recruited in New Zealand.

The overall increase of ivew Zealand ratings borne during the year is 51. The ships’ companies were completed by 72 officers and 619 ratings loaned from the Imperial service.