NAVAL VOLUNTEERS.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13651, 19 August 1916, Page 3

NAVAL VOLUNTEERS.

MOTOR BOAT SERVICE,...... NOTHING DKI'JNITK ARRANGED. WELLINGTON, August 10.. ■ "Tho 'flovcnimcnt ■of Now. Zealand has no knowledge of any authority given lo Gaplain Wliilney, of Auckland, io.enrol volunteers from the mercantile mar-' inc for service with the motor boat patrols in England," said the Minister of ■Defence to-day. lie was referring to. a paragraph published! locally to the effect that Captain Whitney was asking for the names of master mariners who would be willing to leave for the Mother Country in the near l.'uliire, "As 'a .matter of fact," continued Hip Minister, "the New Zealand Government, is in communication with theImperial authorities regarding a- cablegram, from them to the effect thai they are sending officers to this country in order to ascertain whether recruits-can be obtained.for.the Royal Naval Reserve, .and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for certain purposes. This cablegram was in n reply to a communication- from the New Zealand Government, .'which has coniiiuinica'lcd with -tlio Imperial'•authorities quite recently, staling that as far as the Royal-Naval ■Volunteer Reserve is concerned Ave are Cjiii'e,willing to ascertain how many men can be furnished. The Government requires, first to be supplied with information regarding the conditions of enlistment and so fqi'th in order that'the matter may-be placed, before, the men likely to•.volunlccr. This information lias not .yet come to hand, but as soon as it arrives the, Government will act in (lie matter. The Government, in the meantime, has not delegated, any. power in •connection with the proposal,"