Jan and Apr 1991 - Navy League of Australia

critique of ihc current Reserve organisation
and proposes improvements. Many of the
proposals have merit and these could be
considered in expanding the Reserve forces.
A number of reforms are proposed, such
us to:
* give clear and meaningful roles
* provide sufficient equipment
* provide better pay and incentives
* encourage former service personnel to
join
* provide sufficient full-time training
sialT
* improve training methods with more
use of simulators.
Not all ot these arc easy and last year in
response (o approximately 2,230
questionnaires to RANEM and RAFR
personnel only 300 indicated an interest in
further active service.
Also the suggestion that the ADF is out
of step with the employment of women, is
not borne out by recent RAN and AD!-'
policies.
Chapter Ji looks at areas where Defence
Force activities can be ctvilianised. This is
already happening as evidenced by the
creation of Australian Defence Industries lo
run Garden Island Dockyard and the sale of
THE DEFENCE FORCE AND THE COMMUNITY -
moic Njssafl
Wilhamsiown Dockyard to commercial
interests.
There is no doubt that other areas such as
apprentice training, maintenance and repair,
supply and transport and communication arc
worthy of further detailed examination.
Chapter 9 argues lor a more involved
public sector and the need for greater
attention to national planning for defence
emergencies.
SUMMARY
The Review acknowledges that its
implementation would take 6-9 years and in
some suggested areas for reform, the ADF is
already moving.
The positive aspects of the Review area;
' The need to encourage greater public
awareness on Defence issues and the
Gulf War. through the medium of
television has already helped in this
regard.
* The transfer of some functions such as
dept level maintenance, supply and
transport to the civil infrastructure.
* The need for restructuring of the
Reserves
Continued
* Greater support for the School cadet
system to strengthen defence links with
the community.
* Examination of some training, eg
apprentices, being transferred to the civil
sector.
* The review of some legislation for call
out of reserves and commandeering civil
assets.
The Hevie** 1 has some negative aspects:
* The denigration of military
professionalism, the discounting of
Readiness as a proper Defence principle,
and Recognition of the advance that has
already been made in civil-military
relations, mine countcrmcasurcs to
mention but a few.
The Review also seems to dismiss any
significant requirement for overseas forces.
Frequent reference is made to overseas
experience and in particular the United
States There is an assumption that overseas
practices and concepts can be readily
translated to Australia. There arc important
diftcrcnccs of relative size, geography and
conscription that makes this difficult in a lot
of cases.
ROYAL NEW ZEALAND
Navy
-50TH ANNIVERSARY-
Early Years
From the year 1887 to 1909 New
Zealand's interest in Naval Defence
was expressed in a practical way by
contributions to assist in
maintaining an Imperial Naval
Force in Australian and New Zealand
waters. From 1887 the sum contributed
amounted to £20,000 per annum. In 1903 it
was raised to £40,000 per annum; and in
1908, it was enacted that it should be
increased to a sum of £100,000 per annum
for 10 years as from 12 May 1909.
The proceedings of the Imperial
Conference held in London in 1909 has the
effect of focusing greater public interest on
the Naval Defence problem, with the result
that New Zealand undertook to present the
battle cruiser NEW ZEALAND to the
Imperial Government. This vessel was
commissioned in 1911. She served with the
battle cruiser squadrons of the Grand Fleet
throughout the war, and took part in the
naval actions of Heligoland Bight, Dogger
Bank and Jutland.
In 1911, consequent on arrangements
agreed upon at the Imperial Conference of
1909, the Imperial Parliament passed the
Naval Discipline (Dominion Naval Forces)
Act. This statute provided for the application
of the Imperial Naval Discipline Act to
Naval Forces raised by any Dominion with
such modifications and adaptations as might
be found necessary to conform to the law of
the Dominion. In 1913 New Zealand
decided to prepare a naval organisation for
the express purpose of manning ships to be
employed in New Zealand waters. The
Naval Defence Act of 1913 was passed to
give effect to this decision. This Act
empowered the Government lo raise and
maintain Naval Forces and to govern them
by regulations issued under authority of
Orders in Council. Transfers of ships and
personnel as between the New Zealand
Government, the Imperial Government, and
other Dominion Governments was
authorised. The Imperial Naval Discipline
Act and the Admiralty Regulations were
applied lo the New Zealand Naval Forces,
subject to any modifications necessitated by
local conditions. The Act provided that
whenever Great Britain is engaged in
hostilities the Naval Forces of the Dominion
pass automatically under the control and
disposition of the Government of Great
Britain. During periods of strained relations
or emergency the Governor-General may be
Proclamation place the Naval Forces under
Imperial control.
In 1913 HMS PHILOMEL, a light
cruiser of 2575 tons, was detailed as a seagoing
training ship, while a Naval Adviser to
the New Zealand Government was
Proud to be appointed service contractors
to the Navy Fleet of Nissan Vehicles
The Navy and Magic" Nissan
- the top service teams in W.A.
Sales • Spare Parts • Service Department
164 Leach Highway
Melville WA 6156
Telephone:
317 1463
26 The Navy. Apiil-Juno, 1991
Facsimile:
317 2544
HMS NEW ZEALAND, bahlecrviser
The Navy. Aprlt-June, iWi 27