THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 2 June 1910, Page 5

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. . ONE FLEET UNDEK, ONE CONTROL. The official annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the Navy League was held yesterday afternoon at the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. W. Fraser, M.P., presiding over a satisfactory attendance. His Excellency the Governor wrote expressing regret that multiplicity of engagements made it impossible for him to be present. The Prime .Minister telegraphed to similar effect. Tha League's Policy. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report (which has already been dealt with in The Dominion), said it was a pity the membership was not greater, but be was glad to note that the branch was solvent. Ho also referred to the great debt owed by the league to the energetic secretary, Mr. C. W. Palmer, and mentioned tlmt gentleman's successful lectures in different parts of the country. Thu league must be glad to know that the Marine Department had decided to instal Morse signalling lamps at the principal lighthouses. Tho policy of the leaguo was one great united navy for tho Empire. Australia had adopted a diflercut policy, but he was satisfied and he believed New Zcalanders generally were satislied that tho principle advocated by the Navy League—ouo all-powerful fleet under one control—was the best. Mr. Fraser ulso alluded to several other activities of the branch during the year, us detailed in tho report, und mentioned that each of the entertainments given had left a sma.ll profit, a result, which was due, in common with tho general success of tho branch, to tho efforts of the indefatigable secretary. The branch had 144 adult members, 163 in the junior branch, and 84 in the women's section. Dunedin beat them with an adult membership of 266, who paid a guinea each, while the adult members here were only required to pay 10s. Gd. each per annum. Alluding again to the wider interests of the longuo, Mr. Frasor said it behoved tho people at Home to watch what was being done in Germany, and it bohoved people in New Zealand to show how alive thev were to the necessity of having a powerful fleet, and one that could command the seas. Ho could not conceive anything of moro vital importance to the community as a whole. Colonel Hume seconded the motion, and expressed the hopo that as the branch became- better known more people would pin it. The report and balance-sheet ii-bio adopted. Officers. The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. T. ¥,■ J T,ford . 3r -P-; vice-presidents, Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, the Hon. J. G. Finday, K..C., LL.D., tho Hon. T. W. His>"P. Messrs. Wm. Fraser, M.P., J. G. W. Aitken, G. Shirtcliffe, W. C • Buchanan M.P., J. P. Firth, and .7. B. Harcourt; hon. secretary, Mr. C. W. Palmer; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. M Butt, Norwich Union Fire Chambers, Featherston Street; lion, auditor, Mr. E It Dvmock, F.T.A.N.Z., A.1.A.V.; assistanthon. secretary, Mr. Robt. Dnrroch. The following wore elected to form tho committee:—Liontenant-Colonel G. F C. Campbell, Lieutenant-Colonel \. Hume, Captain R. A. Edwin, R.N., Captain A..V. Jones, Captain G. T. Hall, Messrs. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., Wm. Fraser, M.P., G. ShirtclifTe, ,T. B. narcourt, E. J. le Grove, R. Dnrroch, J M. B.itt, C. W. Palmer. S. S. Brown J. M. Richmond, T). M'Kollar, W H Evatt, and J. T. norn. A vote of thanks to Mrs. Algar Williams, ■ secretary to the women's section, was proposed by Colonel Hume, seconded by Mr. ,T. B. Harcourt and carried unanimously. All the honorary officers of the league were made the recipients or a similar acknowledgement To Stimulate Interest. Mr. Fisher, M.P., suggested that means of arousing more interest in the league should be discussed. They might consider whether the subscription should be reduced. A million members payin" 5s each were better than 250,000 payiu" a pound each. The chairman received tho suggestion sympathetically, but thought tiic matter should first he discussed bv the executive committee. The hon. secretary mentioned that them were ifiOO school members. The subscription for 1 associates was ss. per annum, nnd in return onch associate received tho periodical "Tho Navy," which was published at 4s. per'annum. Tho school members paid Is. eacli per annum, and literature was distributed to them, and they were enabled to visit the warships. They wrote 1000 essays on naval subjects during the year, and he thought this educational work was enough to justify the existence of the Mr. Fisher suggested that more platform work should bo done, and that others besides the secretary should assist in that way. The question ,wns then relegated lo the committee, nnd the proceedings closed with a vote ot thanks to the chairman.