NAVY LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1415, 16 April 1912, Page 5

NAVY LEAGUE.

ITS EDUCATIONAL WORK. Much interest attaches to the summingup of the. year's work by New Zealand branches of the Navy League, and some of these branches (notably Wellington iind Otngo) feel, not without justification, that the educational work which they are. carrying on more than justifies their existence. An instructed state'no doubt means an invincible navy mid (as the London "Times" recently remarked) "a lack of public appreciation of our naval requirements constitutes the greatest menace to the national safety and the peace of the world." The following letter indicates what has been done locally from an educational point of view:— The Honourable the Minister for Defence, Wellington. Sir,- ' T beg to enclose an extract from our last annual report, showing the "record of work" accomplished by tho Wellington Branch'of tho Navy League during the past seven years, and would respectfully draw your attention to the educative aims of our organisation. To date, more than 11,000 illustrated and instructive bolts on the Navy and the British Empire have been distributed afthe localschools, and these books have, in many instances, been read by the parents as well as by the juvenile members. Over 3500 naval history essays have been written by the boys and girls under the league's auspices. It is by these means, and by patriotic public gatherings (aggregate attendances to date nearly 40,0(10), the Wellington Branch of the'league- is endeavouring to inculcate a better appreciation, all round, of the "glorious heritage" of Empire referred' to by you in your reply to last week's nnti-Iniporial deputation. The scornful antagonism with which those particular remarks of yours were received by a section of the deputation is much to bo deplored by all thinking people. The league is doing its best (with tho scanty funds at its disposal) to counteract this growing feeling of apathy and indifference to the privileges and advantages, as well as the responsibilities, of British citizenship, all the world over. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) C. W. PALMER, Hon. Sec.