NAVY LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17418, 31 March 1922, Page 12

NAVY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of £he Canterbury (N.Z.) branch of the Navy League was held in the Navy League Hall last night, Mr H. J. Marriner (president) being in the chair. The annual report and statement of accounts, already published, were presented to tho meeting and adopted. The president said a great deal ot work had been done during the year, especially among the edhools. Alan} school branches were lormed. and man> lectures given in the League a hall and in the country. It was intended to continue that work during the coming rear. During the year a valueu member of the League,' the Rev. h. Jiliot Chambers, had. passed away, and to honour his memory tho committee had decided to place a brass tablet in Air Chambers's church sit anl to contribute to tho cost of a memona window to be placed in the church. Die League badlv required a hall of its own. and he hoped that the League would bo able to purdhaso a section in tli'.' city and build its own hall. Referring to the Washington Conference Air Marriner' said that the work of that Conference, limiting the expenditure on armaments, was of groat value, for it would prevent the leading nations or the world from rushing into economic disaster as the outcome of competitive expenditure on armaments. Ho did not believe that the world was finished with wars, and it was tho duty of tihe Navy Leagues to do what they could to cause the Home Government not to allow tho Imperial Navy strength to fall below what was required for the protection of . the trade routes and the security of the Empire. . A great part of the 'League's work in tho future would be educative, and the buik of that work would bo carried out among tihe children. . Pursuant to notice, Mr Walton moved: "That the General Committee of tho branch shall consist of a president and a vice-president, who shall be chairman and deputy-chairman respectively, an honorary treasurer, and twenty-one other members. The president, vice-president, honorary treasurer, the ohairman of the Women's Auxiliary Committee, and fourteen members ilixall be men, and eh all be elected at the annual general meeting of members, tho remaining seven members shall bo women; and shall be elected by tho Women's Auxiliary Committee.' Ml* Walton said that at present tho membership of the committee was unlimited and could 'bo added to (it any time during the year. That was not altogether desirable, for it led to tho creation of ft big, unwieldy committee, and tho .inclusion of members who seldom, if ever, attended. The General Committee elected might appoint a email sub-committee to act as an executive committee.

The motion was seconded by Mr A. C. Maxwell.

Mr J. J. Do-ugall said it wna only proper there should bo a limit on the> membership of the committee. Even the proposed' limit of 25 would leave the committee, if anything, too large. 'Mr H. Holland said it was doubtful if it was the best plan to appoint all the .members. of tho committee at the ahnual meeting, which, might be poorly attended, and m consequence some good members-might, be overlooked. Professor T. G. R. Blunt said it frequently happened that valuable helpers were omitted from the. committee as appointed' at the annual meeting. _ Mr Holland said that two-thirds of the strength, of the committee should be elected at the annual meeting, and the remaining one-third by the committee subsequently. . • I The president said the lady members of the committee were elected by the Women's Auxiliary at their own meet-

ing. • Mr C. j. Treleaven said that nominations were in band for all the fourteen vacancies for men on 1 the committee.

• The president said the meeting might autfhonge the women's section to elect the women members of the committee.

' ' This was agreed,to, and Mr Walton's 'motion was amended accordingly. , . Mr Holland then moved that ten mei members of the committee should bo elected by the annual meeting and tlio remainder by the committee. , The amendment was seconded by Pro-fessor-Blunt. and carried.

Mr Walton's motion was then put and carried with IJIr Holland's amendment attached as an addition. ' The. following officers were elected for the coming year: President, Mr H. J. Marriner; vice-president, Mr J. J. Dougall: hon. treasurer, Mr T. H. 'kori. auditor, Ma* H. T. Whittinghnm; general committee, Professor •Blunt, and Messrs H. Bell, A. Ferguson,- H. ' Holland, J. 0. Jameson, A. C. Maxwell, W. Walton, H. H. Anderson, A. K. Anderson, and 6. J. Lancaster, ... . Profeseor Blunt proposed Mr Alex. Boyle as an honorary life member of tho League. He said tliat Mr Boylo done magnificent work for the League during past years. Thfc nomination waa seconded by Mr A>, Ferguson, and carried unanimously amid acclamation. . Votes of. thanks were accorded the retiring officers and committee.