THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1231, 13 September 1911, Page 2

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

FIRST DOMINION CONFERENCE. The first Dominion Conference of Uio Navy Lcag.no was opened at the Town Hall yesterday. Thos-n pu-cnt were:—' .Mr. W. J. .Napier (Auckland); Mr. Norton Francis (Waimalo); Ilcv, K. E. Chamber?, and Captain Trelraven (Canter- t bury); Mr. Pasco (Ashburlon); Messrs. J. .CraiijiL', JI.P., and G. X. G. Arbor (Tiinaru); Mr. C. W. IV.ilmcr (Southland and Wellington); -Messrs. J. Allen, M.P., ti. M. Thomson, M.P., T. K. Sidcy, M.j'„ W. Frasor, M..P. (Dunedin); Messrs. T. M. Wilford, .M.P., and li. Uarroch (Weiliny ton). Mr. T. M. Wilford, president of l ; ho Welliligton branch, was Wceled eli.iirmnu of the. conference. Captain Trelcavcn •.Canterbury) was appauiteu olnum ricarder of nrococ<Un:{s. • Tho Priiiio -Minister (Sir J. G. Ward), who had boon invited to formally open tlio proceeding.?, was unable to be present, and sent his regrets, adding his good wishes for ike success of tho conference. Mr. Wilford's Address. In opening the proceedings, the prosi(lent remarked that the growth ol tho league .seemed to make these conferences desirable, Ho also made reference, an familiar line.', to New Zr-alaud's dependence as a young nation on tho Homo Navy. Tho altered situation in tho Pacific since 1005 was also touched on. Referring to tlio great development of tho German Empire tho speaker hazarded (ho opinion that the general evidence of Germany's ambitions and warlike preparations pointed to the North Sea as tho storm centre of whatever international conflict might come. In view of Germany's expansion in population sho required an outlet, if a serious complication arose what was the position of NewZealand? This desirable country was a ripe pium to be plucked by Japan or Germany, or any other great nation which, might gain the ascerdancy. Such a con. sideration (and other familiar considerations referred to) required from tho oversea Dominions a permanent spirit of loyalty to tho parent State. Ho regretted , t) note that certain sections of the community here had voiced sentiments against tho country's policy of compulEorv military training, and had even carried their anti-conscription campaign to the length of giving public utterances of a disloyal and unpatriotic kind. If had cveu been suggested by certain persons ('hat it did not matter whether this country wasowned by Germany or Great Britain. For !■. himself, hn did care, and he hoped that' overy loyal subject of the country would '' care. Improving tho Journal. ' On tho initiative of Mr. M. G. C. Pasco (Canterbury), who desired tho conferenco to tako certain steps to improve tho league journal "The Navy," with tho ob- ' jeet of presenting its New Zealand readers with more local and up-to-date" matter concerning doings of the local branches, a committee was appointed to draft proposals for the publication of a ' quarterly New Zealand supplement to "The Navy." Mr. Trcleaven moved, and it v.-ds resolved : Kinematograph Demonstrations. "That tho Loudon office be requested to ascertain from (ho various branches throughout the Empire how many of them would undertake to hire for a certain, period a series of kinematograph films of interesting naval and military subjects, details to bo arranged by tho London office." It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr. R. Darroch, that the picture show proprietors in New Zealand be approached with a proposition that special naval programmes should bo arranged for at tho various centres and sub-centres from time to time. Test Questions for M.P.'s. A sub-committee, consisting of. Messrs. Asher, Chambers, and Francis, Vas appointed to draft a series of questions (o bo submitted to candidates for Parliamentary honours at the general election, these questions to have reference to tho objects of the league. Tho conferenco then adjourned till 11 o'clock this morning.