H.—s
1938. NEW ZEALAND.
NEW ZEALAND NAVAL FORCES. REPORT OF THE COMMODORE COMMANDING THE NEW ZEALAND STATION FOR THE PERIOD 1st APRIL, 1937, TO 31st MARCH, 1938.
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General.
REPORT.
The Honourable the Minister of Defence. Sik, — Navy Office, Wellington, 10th May, 1938. I have the honour to address to you the following report on the Naval Forces of the Dominion and the proceedings of the New Zealand Naval Station during the year Ist April, 1937, to 31st March, 1938 :— Section I.—State. 2. On Ist April, 1938, the New Zealand Division consisted of: — H.M.S. " Achilles " (broad pendant of the Commodore Commanding New Zealand Station) ; H.M.S. " Leander." H.M.S. " Philomel," non-seagoing training and depot ship at Devonport, Auckland. H.M.S. " Wakakura, " trawler. R.F.A. " Nucula," hulk for storage of oil at Auckland (no longer seagoing). 3. Two escort vessels, H.M. Ships " Leith " and " Wellington," are maintained on the Station by the Imperial Government under the orders of the Commodore Commanding. 4. A surveying ship, H.M.S. " Endeavour," is employed on surveying duties in New Zealand, cost of fuel and refit being borne by the Marine Department, New Zealand, but other charges by the Imperial Government. Section ll.—Personnel (Active Service). 5. On the 31st March, 1938, there were 6 officers and 622 ratings borne on the active list who had been entered or recruited in New Zealand. An overall increase of 34 New Zealand ratings borne as compared with the numbers on 31st March, 1937. One officer and 21 Imperial ratings had been accepted for permanent service in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The ships' companies were completed by 71 officers and 669 ratings loaned from the Imperial Service. 6. The ratings entered during the year included 44 boys for the Seaman and Communications Branches, 33 stokers, and 13 ratings for miscellaneous branches, making a total of 90. Recruiting has continued to be very satisfactory in the Seaman and Stoker Branches, but difficulty is still being experienced in obtaining suitably qualified skilled tradesmen for the Artificer Branches. To overcome this difficulty the Board have had under consideration a project to introduce a scheme for the training of naval apprentices. 7. Sixty-one New Zealand ratings took their discharge during the year. 8. A large number of New Zealand ratings have been sent during the year to establishments of the Royal Australian Navy, and a very limited number to Royal Naval establishments in the United Kingdom, for special courses of instruction in technical subjects. 9. Interchange Batch No. 1 of New Zealand ratings returned from service in the Royal Navy in February. The total number of New Zealand entries now serving under this scheme is 58. 10. The health and discipline of the ships' companies have been satisfactory. 11. One New Zealand rating (Acting Petty Officer J. I. Harray) was selected for promotion to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and has been transferred to that service as from the date of his promotion.