TITLE OF “ROYAL"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 10 September 1941, Page 6

TITLE OF “ROYAL"

NEW ZEALAND NAVAL FORCES THE KING GIVES APPROVAL ' ANNOUNCEMENT IN PARLIAMENT (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. In a statement in the House of Representatives this afternoon the Acting Prime Minister. Mr W. Nash, said His Majesty’s advisers in New Zealand, af- . l discussion with His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, and •fter learning that no objection on ineir part would be raised, inquired of •he King during the recent visit of the ! rime Minister to Great Britain whencr His Majcstiy would feel disposed to accord to the New Z % md naval , forces the distinction ol the name Royal New Zealand Navy.” and to i approve of the term "His Majesty’s ; New Zealand ships” to designate the 1 'hips of those forces. ! "1 am glad to be able to announce | that His Majesty has been pleased to | give his approval to the proposal,” said Mr Nash. An Order-in-Council to give formal effect to the proposal will accordingly be laid before His Excellency the Governor-General in Council at an early date and thereupon ! the Royal New Zealand Navy will become the official designation of the naval forces and a ship belonging to ' the Royal New Zealand Navy will be described as ’His Majesty’s New Zealand Ship’ I think we shall all be glad to associate ourselves with the recognition of the war services of our naval forces which this honour implies, coveri ing not only the loan personnel trained I in the Royal Navy, to whom we owe so ; much, but also those officers and men who entered the service as New Zealanders and of whom the service at I the present time predominantly con-