H.M.S. LABURNUM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19248, 27 February 1925, Page 4

H.M.S. LABURNUM

ITS WORK AND OBJECT Replying to an inquiry by the Mayor (Mr Hope Gibbons) at a formal function yesterday, Commander S. K. Smythe,-nf H.M.S. Laburnum, stated that tho Dominion was divided into two naval departments—the Now Zcalanl unit and the Imperial quota. The Now Zealand division maintained by tho Dominion, while in the ease of the Imperial ships, then' was a maintenance charge to the Home Government. As far as the functions of his ship were concerned. Commander Smythe stated that it was her duty to exorcise supervision over outlying Pacific islands, some of which were under tho jurisdiction of the Imperial authorities, while others, again, worn mandatory possessions. Another function of the Laburnum was to bring under the notice ot the young people of the Dominion the necessity of naval authority in the administration and protection of the affairs of the Dominion. The Naw offered excellent prospects for youths from 15 to 17 years of age who desired to adopt the sea as a vocation. In this connection recruits were wanted, and obviously every facility was afforded to the youth of the country who desired to enter His Majesty's service. Every propect to advance from the ranks was held out to the enthusiastic recruit. As a rating in the Now Zealand Division, he could graduate to larger stations, and could in all probability rejoin the Dominion division later when equipped with experience and service. The various branches of the Navy League throughout the Dominion had given an impetus to recruiting, and had rendered wonderful assistance to the Imperial and NewZealand authorities in the prosecution o fthis policy.