3

H.—s

24. H.M.S. " Veronica " was absent from New Zealand from April to the end of September, 1923, during which period she visited the Gilbert and Bllice Islands, and the Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji Groups. In October and November she was refitted and her ship's company carried out musketry practice at Auckland, since which she has visited ports in the vicinity of Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, and Nelson. 25. " Laburnum " and " Veronica " will shortly leave for cruises in the Islands. " Laburnum " has recently been recommissioned and a considerable proportion of the old crew sent to England. " Veronica " will rccommission early in May. VII. Recruiting for the Seagoing Forces. 26. The following table shows the, numbers finally entered during the period Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924 :—

27. The following table shows the numbers discharged or dismissed during the period Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924, after final entry :—

This loss is a percentage of 37-5 of the.numbers entered during the period. 28. Recruiting for stokers has been suspended since October, 1923. At present only boys are required as recruits. 29. Recruiting for the New Zealand Division is progressing but slowly, and arrangements have been made by which a Naval Recruiter (pensioner Master-at-Arms) will shortly tour the Dominion as an experiment. Coloured posters will be displayed, and booklets on " How to join the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy " will, by the courtesy of the Post Office Department, be available in all post-offices. These steps, together with the visit of the Special Service Squadron, will, it is hoped, result in a larger number of recruits being obtained. 30. I hold a very high opinion of the qualities displayed by the recruits entered in New Zealand, and have no doubt whatever that this Dominion will, in time, provide a personnel second to none in discipline, efficiency, and esprit de corps. The men a-e keen, of fine; physique, exemplary behaviour, and take a pride in their ship and in their work. VIII. New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve. 31. In October, 1922, enrolment of men in the New Zealand Royal Naval Reserve was begun, but the numbers entered have been small. The details of those entered during the period Is: April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924, are :— . ("33 seamen ratings. j 4 signal and W/T ratings. j3l engine-room and stoker • Class A (Inactive) —Men discharged from the seagoing forces in New | ratings. Zealand, other than those joining Class A (Active Reserve). -I 1 armourer's crew. These men are liable to come up for naval service, in the event [ 1 plumber, of war, if required, within ten years of discharge from the sea- j 10 steward and cook ragoing forces, if not then over forty years of age | — tings. [_80

2—H .5.

Regimental District. Ordinary Seamen and Boys. Stokers. Artificers and Artisans. Cooks and Stewards. Other Ratings. Total. Auckland 18 4 2 3 4 2 29 4 3 aeroa iVhangaroi ... lamilton .. Wellington PaLmerston North Napier lawera kelson Jhristchurch . . Dunedin 2 4 9 8 2 1 1 1 1 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 4 9 12 10 6 1 2 1 1 1 nvercargill from United Kingdom 2 2 Totals . . 50 11 5 80

Cause. Able Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, and Boys. Stokers. Other Ratings. Total. Serv C63 no longer required, unsuitable, dismissed as a punishment Desertion nvalided By purchase . . 1 5 7 5 3 4 4 2 3 9 9 8 Totals 18 18 12 30