NAVY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 3, 28 September 1918, Page 5

NAVY LEAGUE

. $^ — . THE LADIES' AUXILIARY ANNUAL MEETING Tlio annual meeting of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy teagne was Leld in the Accountants' Chambers last evening. Mrs. ' Hall-Thompson, the president, was in the chair. The vi\uual report detailed at length the many activities of the league, and reported a second successful year's work. There had.been a marked awakening of interest in the country districts. It is hoped that a branch will bo formed in Peilding through the efforts of Mrs. Luff.

Many difficulties were experienced during the first part of the year, hit the publication of the King's appeal to the Empire on behalf of the Navy audi mercantile marine and the magnificent Ostend and Zeebrugge raids led to a general recognition of the work and aims of the league, and the retiring committee has every reason to believe that the pioneering days are over and that the scope of succeeding committees will he widened through the work accomplished during the first two years of the auxiliary's existence. The new offices and coinmittee-room in Ballance Street, and the valuable assistance rendered by the business secretary (Miss M'Alister) served to. centralise and facilitate the work. The auxiliary is much indebted to those ladies who devote their time to attendance at the office so as to ensure its being available to members when Miss M'Alister is not on duty. stress the'point that it inessential that regular provision should be made for additional funds in order that the operations of the league may be carried on without undue anxiety as to finance. The auxiliary aiui its branches are now included amongst the approved societies controlling war funds, and are entitled to-collect and receive.moneys on their own account.

./The rogistered fund of the "Wellington Navy League, apart from that of the auxiliary, is King George's Fund for Sailors. All money collected for objects other than naval comforts is sent Home to England through riiis. To all those who contributed to or assisted in connection with much-ap-preciated parcels the. auxiliary tenders its very warmest thanks. The auxiliary entered .r candidate in the baby competition organised' by Miss Fraser to help the Red Jersey and Red Cross, •ami-raised th'o sum of £189 2s.

On June 14, 1918, a special account was opened at the Bank of New Zealand for King George's Fund, since which date £1436 2s. sd'. lias been collected. Previous to this _ date £4305 Ms. lid. had been received by the Navy League for King George's Fund; £6182 lis. sd. has boon, remitted to the . headquarters of King ' George's Fund, London.

The Art Loan Exhibition to assist the Navy League funds had' to be postponed, but efforts resulted in the following contributions;— Sailors' Day, Mrs. Darling, £487 3s. 10d,; Mrs. Stewart and her Bottle-Collecting Committee, £300; Miss Massey,'entertainment, £61 15s. 2d. j Mrs. Darling, concert at Pioneer Club, £12 2s: 6d.; Miss Borlase, dance, £30; the auxiliary's fancy-dress ball for children, £62 3s. 9d.; Mr. Tombs and the Wellington Orchestral Society concert, £1G lis. 9d. The children of Kilbirnie School rendered magnificent service to the bottle campaign, and their collection alone realised the sum,of £1& The children of' Berfoamporo School also 'rendered valuable service.

Generous donations were made to the Neavy League funds by the following: Lieutenant M'Culloch, proceeds of lecture, £35; Professor M'Millan Brown, £19 14s. 9d.; Lady "Wilson, £10; the Victoria League, £5; Mrs. C. A. Johnston, £10; "Women's National Reserve, Hawera, £32 3s. Id.; pupils of the Newtown School, £26 10s. Tho grateful thanks of the committee are extended to the above and to all others who, by organising entertainments end collections or by -personal donations, have contributed to the funds raised by the auxiliary for the benefit of those at sea.

The following cases have been dispatched during tho pasb year:—To the Ladies' Emergency Committee, 211 garments; men of North Sea, 116 garments, sweets and cigarettes; minesweepers, 557; Christmas parcels for the minesweepers, from the Wallaceville Patriotic Guild; Naval prisoners of war, 297 garments; ineiii on Doris. 26 garments; to Lady Drury, 204 garments; Atlantic Patrol, 164 garments; Motor Patrol, 239 garments; "Wahine parcels of clothing, 1 etc.; New Zealand minesweepers, 126 garments; Naval dependants, 83 garments; Royal Naval Hospital, 109 garments;' Christmas parcels for the 'Wellington Motor Patrol; Officers'' Family Fund, 101 garments. The. committee are most grateful to Mrs. J. R. Wilson and to Mrs. AV. S. Harris, of Pelorus Sound, for keeping them supplied' witJi minesweepers' gloves. Tlio auxiliary is much indebted to the branches, Masterton, Marton, Carterton, Picton, and Wanganui for,their most 'generous contributions of warm clothing, and for all the interest they have taken in all our' different movements. The Keep-on League, Napier, and many individual donors (have contributed welcome gifts of clothing during the year. Great regret was expressed that Mrs. Bradriey Williams had been Obliged to resign her position of lion, secretary to the auxiliary. Mrs. Williams had worked untiringly and loyally on behalf of the league since it started. Mrs. Martin will take her place; and the committee can congratulate themselves on her having so kindly come to the rescue.

Tho president -expressed her personal thanks to all those who had helped any Naval 6r mercantile marine people, and said that Now Zealand had indeed been generous to the sailors and their dependants, and i ( f tho wool producers of New Zealand found it in their power to support the scheme which has been recently proposed by Mr. Newman,, M.P., that, of course, would be a glorious way of showing their appreciation of the work of the Navy and tho sister service; and not only England and New Zealand, fyit the whole world would appreciato this expression of grtititudo ,to tho men who have done their best to maintain the prosperity of this Dominion.

Mrs. J. P. Luke, the moved the adoption of the. report and the balance-sheet, and congratulated the auxiliary on their year of useful work.

.Mrs. Waters rend the report.of the work of the Naval Dependants' Depot. Reports from tlio country branches were also read. Votes of thanks and congratulations wore passed to tho branches, and votes of thanks to all those who'had assisted during the year.

The following officers were elected: — President, Mrs. flail Thompson; vicepresidents, Mrs. J. V. Luke, Mrs. Buxton., Miss Cable, Miss Edwin, Miss Lanrcllson, Miss Medley, Mrs. ]?. M. B. Fisher, Mrs. Gibbous. Mrs. Lar)iai:b, Mrs. Hope, Lewis, Mrs. Lover. Mrs. W. Luke, Mrs. C. 15. Richardson. Mrs. von Hanst, Mrs. Bradney Williams, Mrs. C. Earle, Mrs. AV. D. Sl-nvail, Mrs. Darling, Mrs. Coleridge.