FUTURE OFFICERS

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

FUTURE OFFICERS

TWO BOYS CHOSEN TRAINING IN ENGLAND NEW ZEALANDERS* PROSPECTS The distinction of being selected for training as officers of tho Royal Navy has been gained by two New Zealand boys, who were passed in to the Navy recently after being interviewed at Wellington and successfully passing a special examination set by the Civil Service Commissioner, London. The boys, who are both about 16J years old, are Ronald Whatley, of Wellington, and Arthur Baker, of Timaru.

Although the authorities are keen to provide New Zealand boys with the opportunity for entry into the Royal Navy as cadet officers, it was stated yesterday that the numbers were generally disappointingly few. There were rarely more than two offering each year, and comparatively few had been entered in the past. The authorities were particularly glad to have them, because they could be sent out to the New Zealand station when the opportunity occurred, and it was a policy with the Admiralty in England to chooso New Zealanders for New Zealand positions if they were available. Both the boys who have been selected in this instance were passe 4 in straight from secondary school, Arthur Baker having been a pupil at tho Timaru Boys' High School and Ronald Whatley a pupil of Wanganui Collegiate School. On arrival in England they will be taken in to the Vindictive as naval cadets. After nine months' training there they will go to sea with the fleet as midshipmen, and after two years' further experience will enter a naval college and do various technical courses. From the college both boys will by the normal procedure pass to the rank of lieutenant, although they will take tho rank of acting-sub-lieutenant and go to sea for further service. In tho course of time they will reach the tank of lieutenant and higher ranks. They may be sent out to New Zealand so soon as they have completed the technical courses at the naval college.