KEEN REGRET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 16

KEEN REGRET

HON. E. R. DRUMMOND hospitality of people FUTURE OF THE DIVISION SERVICE BY NEW ZEALANDERS Keen regret at his departure from Auckland and Now Zealand was expressed yesterday by tho retiring commodore commanding the New Zealand Station, Rear-Admiral the Hon. 15. R. Drummond, in a special interview shortly before he left lay the Awatea for Sydney on the first stage of his voyago to England. "Ono cannot live for three years in a country," ho said, "without growing somo roots and making somo close friendships, and it is a great wrench to mo to leave here." "I could not speak too highly," continued Rear-Admiral Drummond, "of the constant friendliness and hospitality of New Zealanders. Everywhere I went, whether on official business or privately, I met kindness which I havo never known to be excelled anywhere else 1 have been. It is my groat hopo that J may bo able to come back to Now Zoaland on holiday to renew the friendships I have made. 1 do not think it can be this year or possibly next, because it depends upon what the future holds for me, hut L want to como back again as soon as 1 possibly can." Delighted with the Fishing ~,

' Rear-Admiral Drummond also said how delighted he had boen-.. with New Zealand's trout fishing. He had. obtained, wonderfuK sport and ho certainly would not bo -a. fisherman if ho did not think regretfully of New' Zealand's fishing after he had left the country. Tho sport out here could not. of course, be compared _in many ways with that in Great Britain* but one immediate comparison , was that at Homp ho. would regard a three-pounder as something particularly marvellous, to bO talked about for some time afterward. Of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Rear-Admiral Drummond said he had expressed his views several times at public gatherings when various persons had been kind enough to think enough of him to bid him farewell. Ho knew it to be extremely efficient unit and ho had been most satisfied with the work of the New Zealand ratings, who had shown it was not idle to hope for realisation of the official object that the division should in time be manned entirely by New Zealanders. Training New Zealand Officers

Asked whether New Zealand could look forward to the time when the division would have a large proportion of New Zealand officers as well, Rear-Ad-miral Drummond said there did not seem to be any reason why New Zealanders of the proper qualifications should not be entered in tho Royal Navy for training as officers. The encouragement to suitable young men was already provided, and the New Zealand authorities had shown they were keen to provide tho opportunity for entry. He thought the men should continue to be sent to Great Britain. His experience was that service on two cruisers, no matter how complete and thorough it might be, was not all that was required. The New Zealand entrants would secure better experience by following the normal procedure in England. For instance the Canadian station, consisting .largely of destroyers, would also-be unable-tb provide the correct amount of training.' In any case, however," his knowledge of New Zealand .convinced him that there, was suitable officer material to be found in the country. • Rear-Admiral Drummond, who spent tho day . nfter arriving by train- from' Wellington, whero he had made a brief final 'visit, "in bidding farewell to 'a number of Auckland friends, said he did not yet know what he would be doing in England. On arrival hO/WOuld' report to -jtne Admiralty.