THE WAY IN THE NAVY

NZ Truth, Issue 973, 19 July 1924, Page 6

THE WAY IN THE NAVY

Recruiting Methods

Youths Kept Waiting Many Months

Prior, during, and since the visit of the Special Service Squadron much has been said and read about the British Navy and its suitability as a career for the youth of God's Own. Of late, recruiting officers have toured the country addressing meetings of youths and urging on them the claims of the life which made for Nelson the undying fame of Trafalgar. It is logical to presume from the fact that the authorities have despatched those officials on peregrinations through the country at no little cost— for a Government tfficial is not content with a ten bob a day ' hotel— that there is urgent need for a numerical strengthening of the forces. But if there is a shortage of navy men or boys to make the naval defenders of : the future, there .is evidence to show that but for unmitigated carelessness or official ineptitude, the Defence authorities might have had willing youths many months ago who have not yet been gathered into the fold. . ;■ '

A case has cropped up which had its origin m Napier 19" months ago, when a youth chose the sea as his calling and took the initial steps to become a wearer of the uniform of His Majesty. The boy had just left school, and the parents decided that it would be m the best interests of the boy to allow him to follow his natural bent, and consequently the father went to the Defence Office of the East Coast town and made the necessary inquiries. Thd individual m charge treated >he queries of the. visitor with . irritating unconcernf but at last threw some forms. over the table to the father of the would-be Jack Tar. These were duly filled In and were returned j s directed. Since Christmas, 1922, the sailor son has been awaiting the convenience of the Defence authorities, and m the meantime the recruiting has been carried on. Quite recently the father and -his boy, now a stalwart lad over seventeen, but who has lost none of ; his keenness for the career of the , British navyman, paid a visit to the Recruiting Officer at Devonport, Auckland, and placed the matter before him. This official was astounded at the facts narrated by the father, and was not inclined, ■ m a polite way, to credit them tijil documentary evidence convinced him beyond doubt. Straightway he made an appointment with the lad, who m two days was passed as physically fit by no less than three medical boards, and at they end of the examinations was informed that he had passed all the tests required. He was practically admitted to the navy, but was told that he must remain at home till he was formally notified when; he was required to go on board ship; that might be m a day or so, or it might be months. And recruiting goes on.

The fact remains that for the space of 19 months of a young lad's life he has been kept practically loafing and at the expense of his parents, having refrained from entering into any line of business, trade or career, expecting at any time to join up. Even now the lad is m the position that he may be called upon at any moment, and employers are loth tp engage , any youth who* might have to leave the next day. Surely some consideration should be shown by the authorities for those responsible for the lads whose services they seefn so " anxious to engage. There must be a screw loose somewhere m the workings of the department when a recruit is kept on the. shelf for the long period of 19 months" while the country '.'* is being scoured for recruits for the service.