H—s

8. Visits of British and Foreign Skips.—H.M. (Ships " Theseus " (aircraft carrier) and " Cockade" (destroyer) visited Wellington and Auckland in August to September, 1947. H.M.A. Ships " Australia " (cruiser) and " Bataan " (destroyer) visited Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland in March, 1948. 9. Fishery-protection Patrol.—Regular fishery-protection patrols have been carried out by an H.D.M.L. in conjunction with the Marine Department. Results indicate that the patrol has had a deterrent effect oil possible poachers. 10. Waitangi Ceremony.-—The annual ceremony to celebrate the landing of the first Governor, Captain Hobson, R.N., was held in February. H.M.N.Z. Ships " Arabis " and " Arbutus " and H.D.M.L. 1183 visited Waitangi for the ceremony, which was witnessed by the Chief of Naval Staff. SECTION lII.—PERSONNEL 11. Comparative statements of numbers borne on 31st March, 1947, and 31st March, 1948, are shown in Appendix 11. 12. It will be noted that these numbers include 282 local entries. Over 2,000 applications were received. Of these, 648 were called for examination by the recruiting Board. The remaining 366 were unsuccessful for the following reasons : medical, 77 ; dental, 39 ; education, 127 ; other, 123. It is gratifying to note the number of time-expired men who have re-entered the service. 13. Owing to a lack of New Zealand personnel to fill tradesmen's billets, arrangements were made to recruit ex-R.N. ratings in the United Kingdom. These men are entered on a three-year engagement with the option of engaging for further service, taking their discharge in New Zealand, or being repatriated to the United Kingdom. Of the 92 originally asked for, 48 had arrived in New Zealand by 31st March. The remaining 44, with an additional 240 ratings of all classes to assist in manning the new frigates, will, it is hoped, arrive by the end of 1948. 14. A system of training apprentices (engineering, ordnance, electrical, and shipwright) has been started. These apprentices are trained on similar lines to the civilian apprentices, but, instead of doing five years in the Dockyard, their training occupies four years. On completion of this period they have to pass a trade test before being drafted to sea (for engineering and shipwright) or Australia (for ordnance and electrical) for their final year of apprenticeship. They are then required to serve in the Navy as artificers for a period of six years. SECTION IV.—WELFARE 15. Efforts are being made to improve the extremely unsatisfactory position as regards the housing of the families of naval personnel. In addition to converting houses adjacent to the Naval Base at Auckland and at Narrow Neck Transit Camp, it is hoped to provide accommodation at Belmont Park. Married quarters are being provided for personnel at Waiouru W/T Station. To date twelve flats for ratings have been completed and are occupied. 16. The training establishment " Tamaki " was completed as a temporary wartime measure and the accommodation there is unsatisfactory. Plans are being prepared for a permanent establishment more in keeping with the increased size of the R.N.Z.N. SECTION V.—ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVAL RESERVES 17. The reconstitution of the Reserves in the post-war period has progressed slowly during the year under review.

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