DESTROYER'S VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25288, 23 August 1945, Page 4

DESTROYER'S VISIT

H.M.S. UNDAUNTED OPERATIONS NEAR JAPAN One of- the destroyers which was recently operating off the coast of Japan with the British Pacific Fleet task' force arrived at Auckland yesterday for refit at the Devonport naval dockyard. She is H M.S. Undaunted, and belongs to the same class as the Ulster, the destroyer which was damaged by a near miss in the fleet's first engagement against the Japanese late in March, and was towed to the Philippines by the New Zealand cruiser Gambia. The Undaunted is commanded by Lieutenant-Commander C. E. R. Sharp, R.N., who wears the oak leaf of a mention in despatches. Her officers and ship's company are for the great part British, and are the usual wartime mixture of long service and hostilities only personnel. Completed Last Year One of the utility types of destroyer built during the war, the Undaunted was completed only about 18 months ago. The main armament consists oi four 4.7 in guns in single mountings, and there are a number of close-range weapons. The Undaunted also carries depth-charge throwers for submarine hunting. . . . Although not heavily armed in comparison with American and Japanese destroyers of comparable types, the undaunted and the other destroyers which have been serving with the British Pacific Fleet have amply demonstrated their seaworthiness, staunchness and value.

Like all the other destroyers of the fleet, the Undaunted has done almost continuous ( sea-time since she came under Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser's command, and while she is in Auckland,she will need not only boUer-cleaning, but also attention to the usual array of defects which inevitably appear under prolonged active service conditions. Duties With the Fleet Duties which the Undaunted and the rest of the fleet destroyers have undertaken in the Pacific cover a very wide range. They have acted as an anti-sub-marine screen for the fleet, they have helped with the defence against suicidal Japanese kamikaze attacks, they have run innumerable "messages" with mail and stores and staff officers, they have been used to pick up any seaman- who has gone overboard from his ship, they have helped with the air-sea rescue organisation designed to save airmen forced to "ditch" their aircraft close to or remote from the main body of the fleet, and all. day long in the operational areas some of them have trailed in the wake of the carriers to attempt the rescue of any airmen who have gone into the sea when landing on or taking off. In many ways, the destroyers have been the "maids of all work" of the fleet. TRANSPORT LICENCES AIDING SERVICEMEN DAIRY COMPANY'S GESTURE (0.C.) TAURANGA, Wednesday "The policy of the transport committee of my company is, wherever possible, to employ owner-drivers," said Mr F. W. Groom in Hamilton today when the renewal of the goods services licences of the' New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Co.. Ltd., was sought before the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr E. J. Phelan. Mr Groom said that at a conference between the Rehabilitation Department, the Second N.Z.E.F. Association, the Transport Department and the company it was agreed that, wherever practicable, the company would hand over the licences to returned servicemen. In a number of cases the operation of a licence would be uneconomical to an individual operator, but in cases where an operator could run on a payable contract the company would relinquish a licence to him. Fifteen licences and 88 vehicle authorities were involved. He insisted, however, that in cases where the licence was relinquished there must be a goodwill between the operator and the company. Operators were the company's ambassadors in the field. Mr F. J. Taylor, of the Rehabilitation Department, said the offer was the biggest of its kind the department had yet received and full advantage would be taken of it. TAXIS IN HAMILTON EX-SOLDIER APPLICANTS (0.C.) _ HAMILTON, Wednesday Opposition to the renewal of 20 taxi licences held by the Checker Cab Co., Ltd., Hamilton (Mr Strang), was expressed by eight returned servicemen (Mr King) before the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr E. /. Phelan, in Hamilton. The servicemen applied for either new licences or the transfer of some of those held by the company. Mr Strang said the company had maintained an efficient service through* out its period of operation and if it lost any licences its efficiency would be impaired. It also had to find employment for 12 drivers who were serving overseas. Mr F. A. Swarbrick. for the Hamilton Borough Council, said, the council did not wish to see any alteration in the present satisfactory service. Decision was reserved.

FOOD IN HOSPITALS THE STAFFING PROBLEM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Ownig to the lack of domestic staff, the preparation of foods for patients had boon almost a nightmare, said Miss M. B. McKenzie, head dietitian at tlie Wellington Hospital and president of the association, in addressing the annual conference of the New Zealand Dietetic Association. Unless something was done to relieve the domestic staff, the situation for the future was not hopeful, she added. Miss M. I. Lambie, Director of the Nursing Division, suggested a conference between dietitians, the nursing staff and the unions concerned to try and reach a plan. Any conclusions on the subject from such a conference would be received by her department with much interest. With increasing industrialisation, she could not see a prospect of relief numerically. Direction for work in hospitals had not been satisfactory; it was much better to have voluntary labour. She suggested a scheme that might include a period of training in* hospitals for, say, six months, but for this it would be necessary to have the cooperation and support of the Hospital Board. Miss McKenzie paid a tribute to the small band of willing workers who had assisted, some of them for five to seven years, but said there rfhist be a permanent staff —not only permanent, but •killed.