“No Hope” For Fiji Naval Reserve
p. 47 · Read in the full issue
From a Suva Correspondent Pleas to revive the Fiji Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve which went into oblivion in 1959 continue to fall on deaf ears. The best the Colony can hope for is a grant from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund to help youth organisations and train Sea Scouts and members of similar bodies in seamanship.
There was much wailing when the announcement was made in 1959 that the FRNVR, plus several Regular Army units, were to be run down.
The FRNVR had been doing a fine job training young men in seaman ship and in instilling into them a sense of self-discipline.
They were a keen band, from the Commanding Officer right down to the lowliest rating—a body of men of which the Colony was justly proud. A recasting of defence requirements by New Zealand, through a shortage of money, meant the end of the Reserve.
Recently, Mr. Tony Moore, a nominated member of the Legislative Council, pleaded with the Government to consider discussing with the New Zealand Government the possibility of resurrecting the FRNVR.
The answer was that there was "no military justification” but that a CDWF grant would be sought to help expand voluntary youth move ments, such as the Sea Scouts.