H.—s

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND NAVAL FORCES. REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF FOR THE PERIOD 1st APRIL, 1939, TO 31st MARCH, 1940.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General.

REPORT. The Honourable the Minister of Defence. Sir, — Navy Office, Wellington, 22nd May, 1940. I have the honour to address to you the following report on the New Zealand Naval Forces and proceedings on the New Zealand Station during the year Ist April, 1939, to 31st March, 1940. Section I. —State and Administration. 2. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the New Zealand Naval Forces consisted of H.M.S. " Leander " (broad pendant of the Commodore Commanding New Zealand Squadron), H.M.S. " Achilles," H.M.S. " Philomel" (non sea-going training and depot ship at Devonport, Auckland), H.M.S. " Wakakura " (trawler), and R.F.A. " Nucula " (hulk for storage of oil at Auckland ; no longer sea-going). 3. Two escort vessels, H.M. Ships " Wellington " and " Leith " were maintained on the station by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. They formed part of the New Zealand Squadron and were administered by the Commodore Commanding, under the general control of the Chief of the Naval Staff. 4. H.M.S. " Endeavour " was employed on surveying duties in New Zealand waters. The cost of fuel and refit was borne by the New Zealand Government and other charges by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. 5. H.M. Ships " Wellington," " Leith," and " Endeavour " have been withdrawn by the Admiralty from the New Zealand Station, but H.M.S. " Hector " (armed merchant cruiser) has been allocated to the station, and arrived at Auckland on 10th February, 1940. 6. On the outbreak of hostilities the New Zealand Naval Forces were placed on a war footing and the operational control of H.M. Ships " Leander " and " Achilles " vested in the Admiralty. 7. As a temporary war measure the offices of Chief of the Naval Staff and First Naval Member of the New Zealand Naval Board, and Commodore Commanding New Zealand Squadron, have been combined, as from Ist January, 1940, Commodore H. E. Horan, D.S.C., succeeding Commodore J. W. Rivett-Carnac, D.S.C., as Commodore Commanding the Squadron and in command of H.M.S. " Leander," while retaining the office of Chief of the Naval Staff and First Naval Member. Section II. —Personnel (Active Service). 8. The scheme for the direct entry of New Zealand candidates for service as commissioned officers has now been approved and will shortly be announced. The cadets will receive training in England on identical lines to, and with, R.N. entries.