BILL FORESHADOWS CHANGES IN SET-UP OF ROYAL N.Z. NAVY

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1950, Page 6

BILL FORESHADOWS CHANGES IN SET-UP OF ROYAL N.Z. NAVY

PARLIAMENT BLDGS, Last Night (PA).—The formation of the Royal New Zealand Navy Supplementary Reserve and the Royal New Zealand Navy Emergency Reserve is provided for in the Naval Defence Amendment Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives today. Member,s of these units are, respectively, officers and ratings with naval experience prepared to enrol for service in an emergency, but not necessarily to serve in peace-time. The Minister of Defence (Mr. MacDonald) said that this would enable the authorities to have the names and qualifications of personnel who would be immediately available for calling up in times of emergency or war, A change is also made in the constitution of the Naval Board, to bring it into line with the other two services. The board will consist of three service representatives, a secretary who will be a public servant, and the Minister. Previously, the secretary was one of the service representatives. The Bill establishes the Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service as part of the permanent naval forces. Provision is made for the Navy to take in recruits called up under the compulsory military training scheme. As the law stands at present the Navy is raised and kept by voluntary enlistments.