NAVAL RECRUITING

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1935, Page 4

NAVAL RECRUITING

PERSONNEL OF NEW CRUISERS. INCREASE IN REQUIREMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The arrival during the next 18 months of the new cruisers Leander and Achilles to take the place of the Dunedin and the Diomede has made it necessary to reconsider the question of recruiting New Zealanders and to make provision for future prospects in regard to advancement and promotion generally. It is stated that the personnel requirements of the new ships will be about 257 greater than those of the present ships. A committee was lately appointed to examine the position and make a recommendation to the Government. It is understood to be the Government’s wish to draw up a recruiting scheme which will have the effect in due course of increasing the number of New Zealand ratings in the division from 50 per cent, at present to near the 100 per cent, mark and to provide a steady, even flow of promotion.

The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, said to-day that the recommendations of the committee would have to be considered by Cabinet. Until then he could give no particulars of tae plan beyond the fact that there would be vacancies for a number of additional men.