NAVY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 286, 29 August 1919, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE

a FRESENTS FLAG-TO NEWTOAVN SCHOOL. The children of Newtown School were yesterday morning presented by the Navy League with a New Zealand Knsijfn. Th'o presentation was n-ade to mark the fact that the number of league members in the school exceeded 100. For (lie purpose of the ceremony, the headmaster (Mr, F. Bothnne) assembled tho whole school in the largest room available.. Mr. J. • AY. Salmon (chairman of tho School ComniitI tee) presided, and among those piesont were Mr. B. Keesiiig (chairman of tho Education Committee., of the Navy League), and Lieutenant-Commander E. G. Spooner, D.5.0., R.N., and Midshipman W. Eykyn, R.N. (both of H.M.S. No'v Zealand). ■ . Mr. Keesing explained to the children the meaning of the ceremony, nnd handed the ilag to Mr, Betfoune. Mr. Keesing mill that tho principal object of the Ic-agun was to see that the British Ntivy was kept up to full strength, and that the officers and men of Ihe Navy were well locked after. He wanted tho children to honour the flag, and to do their , beat as they grew up to be good citizens of Nev Zealand. If they preserved their reverence for the flag, he thought that they would be good citizens. Mr. Bethune acknowledged the presentation, and expressed the.hope that the present membership of. 130 would 'by this time next year have been increased to 2.11 He invited Lieutenant-Commander Spwmer to addrefs the young people. Lieutenant-Commander Spooner said that the flag was symbolic of many things which the children wouM beoonie more fully acquainted with as they grew up.' It stood for one thing that'lind won the recent war—for what General Haig had described as "true discipline."- In this country what had .struck the speaker, and other visitors who arrived by tho New' Zealand, was. the 'dean, sporting mnr.ner in which the'people played their games. If the children followed in life ;the spirit that was displayed in the sports of New, Zealand, they would not go ,far 'wrong.'-. -.■.-• Tut- children gave hearty cheers for the flig and for the visitors, and finally sang the National Anthem.