“ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY”

Southland Times, Issue 24537, 11 September 1941, Page 6

“ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY”

DESIGNATION APPROVED BY THE KING (Special) WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. Approval by the King to the distinction of Royal New Zealand Navy and of ships being designated His Majesty’s New Zealand Ships is being given to the New Zealand Naval Forces. This was announced by the Hon. W. Nash in the House of Representatives today. Mr Nash said that his Majesty’s advisers in New Zealand after discussion with the United Kingdom Government, and after learning that no objection on its part would be raised, inquired of the King during the recent visit to Great Britain of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) whether his Majesty would feel disposed to accord to the New Zealand Naval Forces the distinction of the name “Royal New Zealand Navy” and to approve of the term “His Majesty’s New Zealand Ships” to designate the ships of those forces. “I am glad to be able to announce,” said Mr Nash, “that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to give his approval to the proposal. An Order-in-Council to give formal effect to the proposal will accordingly be laid before the Governor-General in Council at an early date. I think we shall all be glad to associate ourselves with the recognition of the war services, of our naval forces which this honour implies, covering not only the loan of personnel trained in the Royal Navy, to whom we owe so much, but also those officers and men who entered the service as New Zealanders and of whom the service at the present time predominantly consists.”