SEA TRAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22966, 18 February 1938, Page 10

SEA TRAINING

EXPANSION URGED NAVY AND MERCHANT MARINE IMPORTANCE TO DOMINION CONFERENCE PROPOSALS [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] "WELLINGTON, Thursday That New Zealand cadets offering for service as officers in the Royal Navy should be trained at New Zealand s expense in the Royal Australian Naval College, in accordance with the offer made by the Australian Government, was an Auckland remit carried by the conference of New Zealand branches of the Navy League. ' The chairman, Commander C. H. T. Palmer, said that at present it was a soul-breaking job for a New Zealander to get to sea. They wanted to make it possible for a boy who was keen to go to sea, and -also to be assured of a living. Mr. R. Darroch said he would be visiting Australia at , the end of March and, with the concurrence of the New Zealand branches, would take the matter up with the Australian authorities. The Merchant Service The training of officers and men for the Merchant Service was also the subject of remits carried at the conference. An Auckland remit, moved by Mr. J. Frater, was that the conference approach shipping companies registered in and trading to New Zealand waters, with a view to arranging a quota of New Zealanders to be trained as officers and seamen. . , ~ .. , A Wellington remit urged the vital necessity of establishing in New_ Zealand waters a ship for the training of bovs to fit them to become officers of the British Mercantile Marine. Commander Palmer said it would be difficult to establish a training ship for New Zealand alone. Pie suggested the remit include a recommendation that New Zealand boys be given facilities to join the present training ships in Mr. Darroch said the Government might take the matter up with the Imperial Government, and the other Dominions might do the same thing, with a view to securing a ship to cater for the whole Empire. Training for Naval Reserve

Encouragement for Royal Naval Reserve and Volunteer Reserve trainees was provided for in the following Auckland remit: —That more encouragement be given to seamen and fishermen to be trained for the Royal ><aval Reserve and that competent yachtsmen (amateur seamen) be encouraged to join special units of the Volunteer Reserve at a higher age limit. j L The development of the sea cadet organisation was strongly supported by the conference, a remit from Otago urging Government recognition of the movement being carried. Commander Harding, who described the activities of sea cadets in Christchurch, advised that branches should establish the organisation in the various centres without waiting for official recognition, although this, he said, would be more than welcome.