From THE NAVAL REVIEW. Vol XXI, No 4 NOVEMBER, NEW ZEALAND AND HER NAVAL FORCES.

Transcription

1 From THE NAVAL REVIEW Vol XXI, No 4 NOVEMBER, NEW ZEALAND AND HER NAVAL FORCES. NEW ZEALAND is rich in its associations with the Royal Navy. Though Tasman was the original European to sight the coasts of New Zealand. Captain Cook, that industrious and scientific naval explorer, was the first to land in the new country on the 8th October, The accuracy of his survey work is well known, and his subsequent visits in 1773, 1774 and 1777 were fully occupied in the charting of New Zealand's coastline and the production of a clear picture of the new country in the South Pacific. Some of his work still forms the basis of the modern charts, and his activities are evident throughout in the names he gave to the bays and headlands he noted and fixed. Though there were isolated cases of whaling communities establishing themselves in New Zealand between 1792 and 1840, the first body of emigrants under a definite scheme of colonisation arrived in Port Nicholson on the 22nd January, 1840, and founded the present capital of the country, Wellington. It was a few days later, the 29th January, that Captain W. Hobson, Royal Navy, arrived at the Bay of Islands, empowered, with the consent of the natives, to proclaim the sovereignty of Queen Victoria over the Islands of New Zealand and to assume the government thereof. A compact was arrived at with over 500 of the natives, and the seat of government was soon established at Auckland, now the largest city in New Zealand and the headquarters of the New Zealand Navy. On the 17th June, 1840, sovereignty over the South Island was proclaimed at Cloudy Bay by Captain Nias, Royal Navy, and Major Burberry of the 80th Regiment. Captain Hobson was followed by two other naval officers, Lieutenant ShortIand in 1842 and Captain Fitzroy in 1843, as Governors of New Zealand; but, while Captain Hobson proved himself to possess administrative ability, the latter two officers were not successful. Later Lord Glasgow, an exnaval officer, was Governor from 1892 to 1897, and those earlier naval ties were triumphantly sealed by Lord Jellicoe, probably the most popular and able Governor-General New Zealand has possessed. No conversation with New Zealanders on the subject of the government of their country can progress far without eulogistic reference to Lord JelIicoe. His personality made a lasting impression, and his wise and considered advice on the question of New Zealand's post-war defence organisation has had a large effect on the composition and strength of her naval undertakings. Until 1841 New Zealand remained a dependency of New South Wales. It afterwards became a separate colony and, in 1907, was proclaimed a Dominion of the British Empire. New Zealand is often viewed as an offshoot of Australia, a somewhat hazardous suggestion to put forward in the presence of New Zealanders. The two Dominions have no more in common than have New Zealand and Canada. They are separated by over a thousand miles of very unpleasant ocean, the Tasman Sea, and have grown, and are likely to grow further in the future, independently of each other. New Zealand with its long coastline and the relative proximity of the interior to the ocean is probably more sea-conscious than any other part of the Empire. Without wishing in any way to draw invidious distinctions, it is safe to say that nowhere else can people be found who represent, and hold to, the traditions of the British race more closely than in New Zealand. No part of the Empire is more patriotic, and the intelligentsia have a very true realisation of the vital necessity for a strong Navy. As an island dominion, isolated by many thousands of miles of ocean from Great Britain, New Zealand realises the importance of contributing to naval defence as far as finance will permit. The press are, on I.

2 the whole, of one mind as regards the necessity for naval defence, and the New Zealand Branch of the Navy League is most active and up-to-date in its propaganda and the education of the people-and particularly the children-in naval matters. In no part of the Empire does the prestige of the Royal Navy stand higher; officers and ratings are welcome guests wherever they go, and hospitality abounds, perhaps not to-day on the grand scale of a few years ago, but it still shows itself in a hundred and one ways which the stranger to the country deeply appreciates. When New Zealand's contribution to naval defence is examined, several factors must be taken into consideration. First and foremost, it is a country in the relatively early stages of development. Only a few thousand square miles less in area than Great Britain and Ireland it still only contains a population of one and a half millions; considerably less than the population of the city of Sydney. The prosperity of the country depends almost entirely on sheep, dairy farming and agriculture. None of these can be called particularly profitable in these days. Again, in its present stage New Zealand must necessarily expend a considerable amount on the development of transport and power which, while at present perhaps appearing to be on too great a scale, must be undertaken with a view to the inevitable expansion of the future. One thing is certainthat all money possible is devoted to the maintenance of adequate defence. It would be unfair to analyse it in terms of so much per capita of population, just as it is unjust to do so with other dominions. New Zealand, with her small resources and suffering from the world depression which has hit her export trade so hardly, is playing a very full part in the Empire's naval defence. The personnel of the New Zealand Division are the first to appreciate this, and are making every effort on their part to produce the best results with the means available. New Zealand's first contribution to naval defence took place in 1887 when she undertook to pay approximately 20,000 per annum to the Imperial Government. In 1903 this was raised to 40,000; in 1908 it was again raised to 100,000 per annum; and in the next year the Dominion presented the battle-cruiser New Zealand 1 to the Imperial Government. To-day the annual Naval Estimates are in the region of 400,000. Up to 1908 there had been no question of a New Zealand Navy, but the next few years showed the anxiety of the Dominion leaders regarding naval defence. During this period only three almost obsolete ships of the former Australasian Squadron had their headquarters at Auckland. The New Zealand had been stationed in Home Waters, and for these reasons the New Zealand Minister of Defence asked for two Bristol type cruisers, offering, in return, to increase the annual subsidy. Owing to the growing German menace the Admiralty could not accede to the request; and August, 1914, found New Zealand with the small cruiser Philomel and, from the late Australasian Squadron, the Psyche and the Pyramus. Meanwhile, the Naval Defence Act of 1913 provided for the establishment of a New Zealand Naval Force by voluntary enlistment for a period of twelve years with subsequent re-engagement periods of five years up to the age of forty. Actually no recruiting had been commenced prior to the war; and when, in 1914, the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy was inaugurated, the Philomel was commissioned as the first representative of this force with ranks and ratings lent from the Royal Navy. It had been the intention to employ her as a training ship for New Zealand recruits, but the war intervened, and the Philomel sailed with Psyche and Pyramus to convoy the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to German Samoa. She had been completed to war complement with R.N.R. and some New Zealand volunteers. The Philomel s war record as the first ship of the New Zealand Division is not unworthy of note. After the occupation of Samoa she carried out escort duties with the Expeditionary Force destined for France, being detached in the Indian Ocean to search for the Emden. Thence to Aden, when she joined the Red Sea Patrol, and subsequently to harass the Turks in the Gulf of Alexandretta. Later in II. 1 Brassey gives the cost of the Indefatigable, her sister ship, as 1,536,768 - HON EDITOR

3 1914 she proceeded to the Suez Canal Patrol, then Aden, Somaliland and anti-submarine patrol on the North African coast. Again she returned to Aden and landed men to defend that town from the Turks. On the completion of this duty she spent some time in the Persian Gulf and ended her active work at sea in co-operating in the search for the Wolf. On the 1st March, 1917, she paid off for the rest of the war at Auckland. New Zealanders manned three trawlers for local minesweeping duties, and others served in H.M. Ships Pyramus and Doris and, in European waters, on motor boat patrol work. After the war there was a short lull while matters resumed their normal aspect, and in March, 1921, the Philomel commissioned at Wellington as a training ship and received her first batch of New Zealand naval recruits in May the same year. She was soon converted to a base ship, and now lies permanently at the Devonport Naval Yard at Auckland with the familiar additional upper-deck structures which seem always to be a feature of any training establishment. She serves her purpose excellently as the training ground for both upper-deck and stoker ratings, but age is creeping on, and the time is not far off when either barracks ashore must take her place or another hulk be obtained. In the previous year, 1920, H.M.S. Chatham was loaned free of charge to New Zealand and was commissioned on the 1st October with officers and men of the Royal Navy. In 1924 H.M.S. Dunedin relieved the Chatham, and in 1925 the Diomede joined the Division as a second cruiser. Both ships were loaned free, New Zealand accepting responsibility for their upkeep and all payments for personnel and running expenses. In the same year the trawler Wakakura was purchased from the Admiralty by New Zealand and joined the Division for the training of R.N.V.R. Mention must also be made here of H.M. Ships Veronica and Laburnum, which are under the command of the Commodore Commanding the Station, for duties in the Pacific. They are in no way the responsibility of New Zealand, a matter it is sometimes difficult to make clear ashore, and are paid for and maintained by the Admiralty. Naturally in many respects their peace-time work is closely linked with that of the New Zealand cruisers. To digress for a moment it is as well to make clear that the composition of the New Zealand Division is governed by Admiralty policy for the naval defence of the British Empire as a whole. New Zealand's part in Empire Naval Defence has taken the form of a material contribution, and the composition of this contribution is that considered best by the Admiralty for concerted action in time of war. The maintenance of two cruisers in New Zealand waters forms part of the Admiralty's strategical plans and is of the greatest value. It is no secret to say that it is hoped that New Zealand will find ways and means in the near future of maintaining cruisers of more modern design as these become available, and so keep in step with the replacement programme for cruisers which is at present being pursued in the Navy in conformity with the Washington and London Naval Treaties. These replacements would be similar to those now taking place in the various Imperial cruiser squadrons stationed in other parts of the world. The advantages to New Zealand of such a material contribution to naval defence are obvious. The visible results of her expenditure at once maintain local interest in naval matters and allow the Dominion to be justly proud of the valuable part it plays. It must not be thought for a moment that the New Zealand Naval Forces are in themselves an adequate defence for New Zealand. The expense of maintaining a sufficient force for such a purpose would be prohibitive. For that matter this applies to any of the Dominions. It should also be obvious that serious invasion, or even raiding operations on New Zealand by a foreign power with the consequent exposure of lengthy lines of communication and supply, would be a suicidal venture without command of the sea. This command is impossible while the British Navy remains in being. New Zealand's security lies in the activity of the Navy as a whole. In this the New Zealand Division plays its part. One cannot visualise New Zealand at war with any foreign nation without participation by the remainder of the British Empire, and it is on this concerted action that the safety of the components of the Empire depend. In war the activities of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy will depend on the plans of the Admiralty, governed in their turn by the enemy involved. Offence being the best form of defence it is possible that ships flying the New Zealand Jack may be found working in conjunction with other naval forces far afield from their home waters. Such operations do

4 not weaken the defence, though the consequent strategical disposition of units may form only a distant cover for outlying portions of the Empire. The New Zealand Station covers the central part of the Pacific Ocean and lies roughly between the meridians of E. and W. and from the parallel of 30 0 N. to the South Pole. Within this area lies New Zealand with the Chatham and Stewart Islands, the Tongan, Fijian, Gilbert and Ellice, Samoan and Cook groups, the Hawaiian Islands, the Marquesas, the Society and Lower Archipelago Islands, and the Antarctic Continent. This forms a comprehensive responsibility which, with the ships available and the limitations of fuel, taxes the annual programmes of cruises highly. Were it not for the low radius of action of the cruisers and the necessary financial restrictions on the employment of the R.F.A. Nucula, the New Zealand Division oiler, there would be no lack of variety in the cruises that could be planned. Unfortunately, there are no oil bases in New Zealand's portion of the Pacific other than in New Zealand itself, and economy lately has much restricted the activities of the Division. It must be remembered that a Pacific Islands' cruise involves considerable steaming between ports, and though a call to the remote and smallest places bears fruit in many ways, yet the first demand for economy often precludes it. Notwithstanding these difficulties the cruisers and the sloops visit some portion of each of the groups mentioned above annually with two exceptions; the Hawaiians, which involves an unjustifiable expenditure of fuel unless on passage to and from the United Kingdom, and the Antarctic, for reasons which need not be specified. During the last three years the Station has been short of one cruiser, as both the Diomede and the Dunedin in turn carried out large repairs in England which involved their absence from the Station for nearly eighteen months. This added to the difficulties of adequately dealing with requirements; but now, with the return of the Dunedin in July, 1932, matters will become easier. It is only unfortunate that the demands of the Station preclude much cruising in company other than during the periods devoted to exercises. Very generally the annual activities of the Squadron are as follows. During December and January the two cruisers lie alongside at the Naval Base at Auckland and Christmas leave is given. On conclusion of this period a week or ten days is spent in the Hauraki Gulf, an ideal enclosed area, sixty or more miles long, outside the actual harbour of Auckland, where the familiar activities of gunnery and all manner of squadron exercises are performed. The New Zealand Air Force from Hobsonville co-operates in these exercises. A visit will then be made in company to the more uninhabited bays of the east side of the North Island {or regatta training and competitions. The cruise will be continued separately, visits being made to ports in the northern half of New Zealand, finally concluding with a meeting at Wellington and a month of musketry and field training at the Military Camp at Trentham. The ships then return to Auckland, sometimes with further visits en route, where docking will be carried out, and one cruiser will undertake her annual refit. At the end of June both will sail for the Pacific Islands cruise of about two months or ten weeks duration. One cruiser will carry out the eastern circuit, visiting the Cook Islands, Tahiti, Bora Bora, British and American Samoa, and Fiji, while the other may call at Tonga, off-lying islands of Fiji, perhaps visit Noumea on the Australian Station, and, if fuel permits, strike up into the north-western portion of the station. A refuelling must take place during this cruise; each cruiser will cover some six thousand miles, and the Nucula will combine a voyage to San Francisco to replenish Auckland stocks of oil with a meeting with each cruiser at, probably, Bora Bora and Suva respectively. On completion of this round trip Nucula will again transport fuel from America, these two voyages providing sufficient oil for annual requirements. Meanwhile the two cruisers may meet at Lautoka in the Fiji group to carry out the annual regatta with the Veronica and Laburnum. On return to New Zealand the other cruiser will refit, and a month or more at Auckland will include another exercise period in the Hauraki Gulf. Then both depart for ten or eleven weeks cruising from port to port in the South Island. This will involve each ship in some eight visits. Opportunity is taken during this programme for Christmas leave to be given to New Zealanders who are natives of the South Island, in the case of the Dunedin at Dunedin, and the Diomede probably at Christchurch. Auckland is reached again in early December.

5 Under peace conditions the above, while subject to small variations, is a year's work. There is a great deal more that could be done; but, even so, each ship will have covered about 13,000 miles and consumed the best part of 5,000 tons of fuel. Beyond this finance does not permit the enthusiast to go. It is difficult to compare the relative merits of the cruises. The Pacific cruise provides pleasant days at sea when the weather is kind, but that ocean does not always live up to its name. The trade winds, kept within bounds, cool the ship, and the ocean is as empty as the proverbial cupboard. In two annual cruises the Diomede did not meet one ship out of sight of land. Each group of islands has its distinctive features, though to-day one must not expect quite the primitive and natural conditions of earlier times. Nukualofa, the capital of the independent island kingdom of Tonga, presents one first with a magnificent natural anchorage within the reefs, a hard-working British Agent and Consul and government officials, and a Tongan Queen with great dignity and wisdom. Raratonga, a dependency of New Zealand, has an unpleasant and open anchorage, but their pleasure in your presence and the hospitality shown by the inhabitants of that isolated island amply repay the anxieties as to weather. Tahiti, the subject of so much literature, may disappoint at first; but not if one is fortunate enough to visit it during the anniversary celebrations to commemorate the Fall of the Bastille. Pleasant company, hospitality, and the pride of the British residents in the warship's presence, coupled with the magnificent scenery, make a call well worthwhile. Bora Bora, another natural harbour with a wonderful encircling reef, will always be remembered for the native dancing and the charming French administrator. Of Raiatea the same, and a nine miles exit inside the reefs on the remains of a disreputable French chart! Pago Pago, American Samoa, is hospitality itself. All very American with its naval captain as governor and a small coterie of naval officers and their wives who live in neat little houses, provided by a grateful government, along the harbour front, all complete with commissariat store, dentist, talkie cinema, and a nine-hole golf course in between the houses. Apia, the home of R. L. Stevenson, still shows the skeleton of the German gunboat Adler, lost in the notorious hurricane of An evil harbour. Now it is the official headquarters of the Administrator. New Zealand holds the mandate for this part of Samoa, lately a colony of Germany. Then to Suva, the thriving capital and main port of Fiji. Very British and colonial with its dignified governor's residence. More hospitality and official parties. Natives of the fuzzy-haired type, so different from the indolent charmers of the Societies. Lautoka means twenty-five miles inside the reefs and very much sticking to the tram lines-too many unfortunate incidents have occurred in that part of the world. Here is a huge sugar refinery, prosperous and encouraging to meet in these days of depression. The labour is, as usual in Fiji, Indian, of whom a large majority of the population are composed. There are many other localities, some of which the cruisers can visit, but many where the flag showing must be left to the sloops. It is in this respect that the sloops are not so pleasantly occupied. The reputed pleasures of the Pacific do not recompense them for their protracted and arduous cruises to the extent that is usually imagined. Economy again has had a large say in the matter, and the leisurely round of past years is no longer possible. Both sloops usually depart for the Pacific Islands in June each year, one taking the eastern portion of the Station and the other the north-western area. While the cruisers are confined to the better anchorages, the sloops are required to visit very many outlying islands and anchorages, at many of which they are fully exposed to the elements. It is an exhausting process at times, involving very many days with all scuttles closed and the engine-room departments working under trying conditions of heat. At the same time there are pleasant and interesting experiences not likely to be met with elsewhere, and the visits to the tropical islands of the South Pacific have a glamour of their own, although somewhat overstated in the popular periodicals. The sloops assist the local Administration by embarking the governors or commissioners of the British groups for tours of inspection to their outlying responsibilities, places which could not be reached by any other means except native craft or the occasional trading schooner.

6 On return to New Zealand in September the sloops dock and refit their aged hulls for another year of their extended life. Then away for visits to ports in New Zealand and, finally, Wellington and the musketry camp in the early part of the following year. Such is the average yearly programme, which follows the climate. During the hurricane season ships are in New Zealand waters, and during the colder months of the Dominion the Pacific is at its best; and the cruisers and sloops move northwards. Occasionally, of course, outside matters break the chain of events. The opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge provided an opportunity for the visit of the flagship to Australia and an extremely pleasant meeting with the Australian Navy: exercises with their units during the approach, and delightful social activities during an arduous week in Sydney Harbour. Economy again has only prevented more frequent meetings with the resultant excellent competitive spirit that they engender on both sides and the valuable practice in fleet work which the sec exercises provide. The Australian cruisers have recently made a return visit to New Zealand waters. Other divergencies from the programme have not been so pleasant, but have assisted in showing New Zealand that the peace functions of ships of war are of value, and have, so one is given to understand, greatly increased the already high prestige in which the Royal Navy is held in the Dominion. During the troubles in Samoa in 1930 the Dunedin proceeded to and remained at Apia and provided the necessary policing and armed force required to restore order amongst the misled natives. That this was done efficiently in the trying conditions of weather that prevail at that time of the year ashore goes without saying. The New Zealand rating showed himself most capable of performing arduous and tiring work. The earthquake in the Hawke's Bay district of New Zealand in February, 1931, providentially found the Veronica at Napier, the worst sufferer of the upheaval, and both cruisers on the point of sailing from Auckland for a cruise. All three ships were therefore immediately available and rendered considerable assistance, setting up food-depots, digging out imprisoned persons, pulling down dangerous buildings, shoring up bridges, repairing the water supply and providing police patrols. It was a most instructive week, and impressed the country with the adaptability of the Navy and the help it was able to bring. Wherever the New Zealand Division goes one experiences universal courtesy on the part of the officials of the ports visited. Every facility and ready assistance is rendered at all times. The residents of the seaports are most hospitable, both to officers and men, and one retains the pleasantest memories of the kindnesses and entertainments extended. The Division on its part returns the hospitality as far as lies in its power. Unfortunately reductions in pay have made it necessary to curtail to some extent the Navy's traditional hospitality. The New Zealand Division is controlled and administered by a Naval Board which was first constituted by Order in Council on 14th May, This Board is composed of the Minister of Defence, who acts as President, the Commodore Commanding the Station as First Naval Member, a post captain as Second Naval Member, and the Secretary to the Commodore as Secretary to the Board. It would appear perhaps at first to be a somewhat complex arrangement, as the First Naval Member also functions as the commodore of the squadron and as commanding officer of the flagship. This naturally involves his absence from the Navy Office at Wellington for the greater portion of the year. On the other hand the Second Naval Member, the secretary, and a lieutenant-commander for operations and intelligence duties, are all stationed permanently at Wellington. Important Board meetings requiring the presence of the Commodore are arranged at periods when the flagship is at Wellington, or, if this is not possible, the Commodore will travel overland, leaving the ship in the command of the executive officer, who is raised. temporarily to the dignity of acting captain. In addition, at the Navy Office, is a retired post captain who acts as Director of Reserves, and the requisite clerical staff. The system, necessary in view of the fact that the Division is the property of and paid for by New Zealand, works admirably. There is naturally a close liaison with the Admiralty at home, and the III.

7 cruisers do not differ from Imperial ships in any respect excepting the sight of the New Zealand flag flying at the jack staff in place of the more familiar Union Jack. As was stated before, the two sloops, manned by Imperial ratings, do not come under the Naval Board administration, but are controlled direct by the Commodore in his capacity as Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Station. In April, 1932, there were 420 New Zealand ratings, recruited in New Zealand, on the active list. Some 300 of these were serving in the Diomede, about 90 in England undergoing courses or lent to Imperial ships and awaiting return to New Zealand waters in the Dunedin, and the remainder serving in the Philomel and Wakakura. The balance of personnel required for the manning of the Division was made up by 40 officers from the Imperial Navy, lent in the majority of cases for a period of three years, and 220 Imperial ratings. This latter figure is steadily decreasing as New Zealand recruits are passed to sea. There are usually 50 or more boys and stokers under training in the Philomel, and it will not be many years now before the Division will be manned entirely by New Zealanders excepting certain types of the higher technical ratings. As regards officers there is no proposal to inaugurate a separate entry; there are obviously serious objections to such a course. Apart from active service personnel New Zealand maintains a Royal Naval Reserve of about 250 officers and men, and a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve of all classes of over 900. There are four R.N.V.R. Divisions, stationed respectively at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Run on the same lines as in the United Kingdom they are a keen and enthusiastic force and a very necessary adjunct to the local naval defence organisation of the Dominion. Their sea training is provided by regular periods in the Wakakura and, when opportunity serves, they are also provided with sea experience in the cruisers. Some comparisons of pay may be of interest. A lieutenant on promotion gets 16s. 8d. a day while on loan to the New Zealand Division as compared with 13s. 4d. at home. A lieutenant-commander on promotion gets 1 7s. as compared with 1 6s. 8d., and a newly promoted Commander 1 16s. instead of 1 I5s. 8d. An able seaman is paid 6s. 4d. per diem and a petty officer 8s. 2d, as against 3s. 8d. and 6s. 4d. respectively in the Imperial Service. A C.E.R.A. 1st Class earns 13s. 1d. a day instead of 11s. 6d. There are also some differences as regards the rates of marriage allowance. One great boon to officers of lieutenant-commander's rank and above, which at one time applied to all officers, is the granting of a free passage out and home for their wives and families. It will be seen that, in general, the pay is somewhat higher, the difference decreasing as rank or rating advances. There is, however, one word of warning. While income tax in New Zealand is considerably lower than at home, there exists at present an unemployment tax of 1s. in the payable on the total income. This naturally affects the net income, especially of the lower paid personnel, to a considerable extent; but, while it is difficult to lay down a hard and fast opinion, it may be said, taking into account all conditions and the comparative cost of living, that there is little to choose between one service and the other, and the accustomed standard of living can be comfortably maintained while serving in New Zealand. Pensions do not exist for ratings. In place of this deferred pay is provided in the same manner as in the Australian Navy. This varies according to rating held during the active service time, and, for example, a chief petty officer leaving after twelve years' service, having held a petty officer's rate for four years and with two years as a chief petty officer, would draw about 600. Were he to continue to serve, this amount would have increased to over 1,300 on twenty-two years' service. Such sums are invaluable to enable men to start life ashore. In conclusion, one cannot omit mention of the New Zealander in his capacity as a naval rating. It would be difficult to find a better type of man anywhere in the Empire. Probably the general appearance of fitness of the ship's company would be the earliest point the newcomer would notice, and the impression is left that the physical standard is higher than in the Imperial Service. The men bear themselves well and look smart and intelligent. They have, of course, their defects. The Diomede's ship's company is collectively much younger than that of an Imperial ship of a similar class. They are somewhat untidy onboard, not in their own appearance, but in the care of their possessions. This habit is being cured partly by the reductions of pay, which make the replacement of kit relatively a greater expense in these days. They get more easily bored in the purely routine work, but on the other hand they are capable of rising to an emergency and will enter with enthusiasm and efficiency into whatever work is demanded of them. Discipline is simple to maintain and the number of serious

8 offences is negligible. Their behaviour on shore is remarkably good. The men are, in fact, a pleasure to work with, and good results can always be achieved with them. For both officers and men New Zealand provides every sporting facility. Rugby and Association football, cricket and hockey matches can generally be found at every port. Tennis and golf, are of course, played everywhere. The wilder parts of the country provide good opportunities for deer stalking and wild pig and goat shooting. The local inhabitants are always ready to take parties out. Lastly, no finer fishing could be found. The trout fishing in the inland waters and rivers is excellent and easy to obtain. The deep-sea fishing, with patience, provides thrills for the fishermen which could be met nowhere else. The world's most renowned fishermen have put the seal of their approval on this New Zealand sport by their return to the country year after year and their success in their sporting battles with the swordfish and the shark. Visits by the ships to the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa yearly provide the necessary opportunities for participating in this sport. In addition to the foregoing attractions it must be emphasised that the naval officer has an unrivalled opportunity, more particularly perhaps in the flagship, of assimilating a new side of naval administration. He will meet in the course of his duty subjects with which he has never dealt before, and he will have the advantage of learning at first hand, or of co-operating in, the handling of the administrative side, of understanding the problems of finance, of politics and of personnel which, though on a reduced scale, must be much akin to those which beset the Board of Admiralty at home. Finally, and probably most important of all, he will have served in the Pacific. He will have made himself familiar with an ocean with which only too few in the Service are acquainted: a knowledge which one day may prove of great benefit. He will have appreciated its vastness, its possibilities and its inadequate charting. All this in the company of first-class shipmates, in ships with a high morale and while meeting the people of New Zealand and the British possessions of the Pacific with their friendliness, hospitality and admiration for everything British. IV.