NAVAL CO-OPERATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 December 1940, Page 4

NAVAL CO-OPERA-TION

NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION MINISTER’S EXPLANATION [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. The degree of control exercised by the New Zealand Government over tha ships of the New Zealand Division ol the Royal Navy at present was defined by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones in an interview yesterday. “In accordance with a long-standing agreement with the British Govern* ment, we handed over to the Admiralty when the war began the two cruisers in the New Zealand Division, H.M.S, Achilles and Leander,” Mr Jones said, “Though these ships are under the control of the Admiralty for the duration of the war, their movements are always determined and directed in consultation with the New Zealand Government.” The Minister explained that while the cruisers were now acting as unit* of the Royal Navy, the questions of pay and conditions in them came unde* New Zealand regulations. As far a* other naval units, such as minesweeper* and various auxiliaries were concerned, they remained under full New Zealand control, and the Dominion’s regulations applied to those on board. Only two cruisers had been handed over to the Admiralty. It was absolutely essential to effective naval operations that the utmost eo-operation and co-ordination should be established, and that could only be done when there was one directing authority. That applied to the whole of the British Commonwealth.