THE NAVY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 5

THE NAVY LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING. POINTS OF,TH£ NAVAL: PROBLEM. '» Tiie annual meeting' of ,'HiclWeUiiigtoii branch of." the ..Navv/League was held •yesterday:-,. There.: : was J - a • large' attendance of adults and children.'Apologies for absence ; were received' from His Excellency the;'Governor*(Lord Liverpool), the Minister .of Defence (Colonel J, Allen), and the 'Minister.of Justice (the Hon. A. L. Ilenlman). .... -. .. " The Major, who !■ is .'.president -. of '■ the league, occupied the chair. ... " Mr. Luke, speaking as the representative of the City, said they had a great, feeling and admiration for. the work done in New Zealand bv. " the Navy League. . The necessity of keeping up the Navv to a high . standard was. recognised by everyone belongißg to the great British Empire. Just recently in tins Dominion there had been a chango of opinion, brought about as to the best means of.assisting tho Imperial authorities. At the date of tho Imperial Conference in 1909 there was a distinct understanding that tho Dominion of New Zealand would bo associated with tho British people in any naval probi ''t That was amplified by the gift of the battleship H.M.S. New Zealand to the Imperial Government. . In connection with th© change of feeling as re*garded the Navy problem in this country the Government had departed from tho 1909 policy, and decided on a distinct unit scheme, It was not for him to go into particulars of tTic scheme, but, the scheme of a unit of their own K i rJ - necessitate getting away from the British Empire, for it was laid down that in case of war the unit should be under control of the British Admiralty, iliat was one of the safeguards of the scheme. Personally, his feeling had been m the direction of depending very largely upon tho Imporial people in the Question of defence. Ho had ono word to say m respect of the separate units that were being formed, and that was that it was their bounded duty t-a th© Imperial people to carry out their function and _ discharge their part of the responsibilities placed upon them. io tho boys and girls he commended tho spirit shown by the men and women iillo had helped make the Empire. They had made great sacrifices, on behalf of the British Kingdom and the colonies, ir everyone showed the same desire to assist tlie Empire, then not only would New Zealand he well established on sound lines, but they would be helping to securo the best interest of the whole ot tho hmpire." (Applause.) Mr. Luke moved the adoption of H lie annual report and balance-sheet, already published?

Sir Joseph Ward's Remarks. - Sir Joseph AY a re!, in seconding the motion, congratulated thoso responsible for the detail work connected with tho league. To Mr. C. AV, Palmer, the lion, secretary a great deal of thanks was due Ho felt sure tho boys and girls understood the objects of the league, If t-i.-o British Islands were not. insular there would not bo "1 if i • siltno Jlcocl f o r tho. establishing and maintaining of such a great fcavy as there was to-day. The i act- that the seat of the Hmoire was insular, and ciosoly situated to other great lowers, mado it necessary for them to do more than under ordinary Circumstances they would have been called upon to do. He congratulated the prae-winncrs on what they had done, Hp was hot going to discuss tho policy of the Navy, but- he was a firm believer of the old saying, rfViUnited we stand, divided we fall," and ho .was of opinion that before ntanv roars itwould be necessary for alj'parts of the umpire to stand shoulder, to shoulder for the protection' of tho .whole. His o\vn opinion was that for many years to'come this country would not'be able i.o support a suitable unit. Ho wanted to assure them of undving affection to tho» Motherland held by 'all the colonies, and honed the time-would come when the Navy of the E'mpiro would bo so strong that it would be impossible for any combination of nations to assail them. It w : ould devolve upon the boys and girls to, continue the good work that had been done in the past by tho builders of the Empire. He wanted to congratulate the many young people on their interest in the question. They wanted to ; steer clear of any spirit of "jingoism," but on land and sea they wanted to make themselves perfect, with a. view to protecting their grand old Empire. (Applause.) " Mr. Harcourt also added n few words, and tho motion was carried. ■

Mr. Harcourt moved a vote of thanks to tho honorary officers of tho society, and'paid a spccial tribute, to tho hoii. secretary : for the energetic" manner in which lie' had. carried out his duties. ' : Mr. Luke seconded the resolution, which was carried with Acclamation. Support Wanted, Mr. C. K. Smith, a member of the executive, regretted the lack of interest taken in the Navy League by members of the; mercantile community in Wellington. He honed they would have more support in the future from tha business men. lie felt it was only necessary to put the matter . before them in a proper spirit. Mr. Smith moved tho re-election of tho existing office-bearers. Sir Joseph Ward seconded tho motion, which was carried..' , Mr. Palmer complimented the boys and girls on the interest they ■ had taken in the League. Tho business men had also supported the League in the many excellent .gatherings that had taken nlaco from time to time.

Votes of thanks wore also accorded to the City Council for tho free useof tho Town Hall, to tho shipping companies for free earria??:© of literature, and to tho Education Board. and tho Headmasters' Association..

The prizes won in connection with the League essay were then presented by the Slayoress (Mrs. Luke).

The meeting adjourned with a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress.