NEW ZEALAND'S NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21116, 25 February 1932, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND'S NAVY.

ECONOMICAL AND SOUND. TRIBUTE BY COMMODORE. COLONIAL RATINGS PRAISED. ! ADMIRAL'S THREE POSITIONS. / "Out here we have this small division of the Royal Navy, which endeavours to maintain its traditions and at the same time bring up the New Zealand personnel in those traditions," said Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Blake, Commodore in command of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, speaking last evening at a farewell smoke concert given by the White Ensign Club, of which he is patron. "I can conceive of no belter arrangement for any Dominion," ho said, "for it. is not only economical but it is sound, and I think the Government realises it." "The New Zealand Division is run probably on more economical lines than any other Dominion service existing," said Admiral Blake, stating that he knew it to cost very much less per head of population than the services in other Dominions. "I like to look upon all those who have rerfed in the Navy as shipmates," Admiral Blake continued. "I have, of course, represented out here (he Imperial •interests and at the same time have been at the service of the New Zealand Government. I have had three rather peculiar tasks to perform, which have made lifo quite pleasant, until it has come to the last one. I am. captain of my own ship, which is very satisfactory, and I am Commodore commanding the New Zealand station, which is also highly satisfactory. But I am also Naval Adviser to (he New Zealand Government and First Naval Member of the Naval Board, which is not quite so satisfactory. Plenty of Initiative. "However, as captain of my ship, I can look after the interests of my messmates, as Commodore of the New Zealand station I can make certain recommendations, and as First Naval Member of the Naval Board I can then say I do not approve of them at all. From experience, I suggest that you should have no fixed convictions, but when the occasion arises, as it were, 'trim your sails to the wind.' "In the two cruisers of the New Zealand Division, while they are really units ©f the Royal Navy, we have approximately 60 per cent, of New Zealanders, born and bred in the country," said Admiral Blake. "I would like to pay a tribute to those fellows, as I am very fond of/them—they are so very human. In a way they are quite a different type from the Imperial rating, but, they have got on very well. I have the greatest admiration for them. On the trip to Samo;i. which we made on the Dunedin shortly after my arrival two and a-half years ago. I found that the New Zealanders played up to the mark as well as they did in the Great' War. They showed an extraordinary amount of initiative under most trying conditions. It has given me great pleasure to be in command of the division for two and a-half years." A Form ol Insurance. The toast of the "Royal Navy," to which Rear-Admiral Bbke replied, was proposed by Lieutenant-Commander Juler, who said all the colonies had a, full appreciation of its value. The Navy had made, it possible for them to come into being and to live. They should do all they could to keep the Navy at the required strength. One of the best forms of insurance now that there were fewer ships was to do all they could for those men who vere out of the service—to See that they were employed and kept in the strength and ability to serve. There was not much the colonies could do by themselves, but they should retain the light cruisers to keep their trade routes open. The possibility of raising the right men had been proved in New Zealand and in Australia and, to some extent in Canada. Commander Juler •referred to the difficulty experienced by the sailor in adapting himEclf to shore conditions. Admiral Blake said that at (he Devonport naval base endeavours had been made (o employ as many ex-service naval ratings as possible. "The spirit of the Navy has always been sound and ahfrnvs will be. whether colonial or Imperial," said the. chairman, Mr. A. B. Downing, in proposing the toast to Admiral Blake. "The majority of us have served on the lower decjt and we all know its spirit and how we looked u,p to the officers." Mr. Downing presented Admiral Blak'o with a life member's badge of the club, and expressed the members' regret at losing him as their patron.