NAVY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 132, 28 February 1920, Page 8

NAVY LEAGUE

ITS WORK IN WELLINGTON

ANNUAL MEETING OP BRANCH

Sir William Frnser occupied the chair at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of tho Navy League, held in the Chamber of Commerce Hall last evening. Thero was a large attendauco of members, tho majority of whom were ladies. Tho president (Mr. J. P. Luke) was unable to be present owing to his übsenco from Wellington, and the nonattendance of tho secretary (Air. It. Dnrroch) on account of his son's illness, was apologised for.

Sir William Fraser, in moving tho adoption of the report, expressed himself as honoured in being asked to preside, lie had. owing to his Ministerial position, not been able to take putt in such meetings, but it iy.as not through uny lack of interest in the affairs of the league. They ..must never forget that it was to the Navy that they owed their victory in the great war. The Army had done wonderfully well, but without the Navy they would have been helpless. They must always have a strong Navv. What form it would take he was not

able to say. They heard all sorts of things, of big battleships and submarines, but the form the Navy of the future was to take must be left to tho/ie at Home, who were in a better position to judge of the nation's needs in that direction. (Applause.) The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as fol-. lows:-Patron, His Excellency the Gov-srnor-General; president, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke); vice-presi-dents the Eight Hon. W. P. Massey, tho Bight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward. Sir' John Findlay, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Walter Buchanan, the Hon. J.' G. W. Aitken, Messrs. J. B. Harcourt and G. Shirtcliffe, and the chairman of the Harbour Board; executive committee, Colonel G. P. C. Campbell, Captain Chudley, Messrs. J, B..Harcourt, C. R. Smith. A. P. Wircn, C. W. Palmer. B. Keesing, A. Hollis, lan Duncan, .E. Hunt S. Underwood. E. Evatt, E. W. Shallcmss, and W. Poster; lady members of committee, Mesdames Brndney Williams, Hosking Darling, Earle, Richardson,, and Mifs Laurenson; lion, treasurer, Mr. A. P. Wiren; lion, secretary, Mr. K. Dnrroch; hon. auditors, Messrs. Gold and Arcus. Growth of the League. Captain Chudley gave some intercstina figures relating to the growth of tho league in Wellington. In 1912 there were 291 adult members and 794 junior members; in 1813, there was a drop to 181 adult members, and un increase to 1278 junior members; in 1914 there were 371 adult and 1726 junior members (with a credit balance of Bs. 7d.). Since then there had been a steady growth until at present there were 1836 adult members and 5200 junior members (with a credit balance of over .£800). Ho thought that during the next year they ohould double their membership. Each member should secure at least one other member, as was done in the case of the Oversew Club at Home. (Applause.) Educating the Children. Colonel G. P. C. Campbell outlined the work that tho league had done while ije had occupied the chair, since Mr. Harcourt's retirement. . He stated that one of their chief objects was to interest tho children and educate them in 'the Navy and what it meant to the Empire. The league had certainly done very well, but he thought there should be better organisation, At present they had scat-tel-ed units all over the Dominion, but there should be more cohesion, and a central executive for New Zealand might bB appointed for the better carrying out of tho aims and objects of tho league. He gave all credit to the ladies for the work they had done in the past. Ho believed that when H.M.S. Renown arrived hero shortly the league would be called upon to entertain the officers nnd men of that vessel, and none in New Zealand were able to do this better than their members. Colonel Campbell also

referred to the essays from school children on "Sea Power" and to how interested they were in the subject. It was nn educative idea that was working out very satisfactorily. Need of Propaganda. Jfrs. Earle, in referring to work among the 'children, suggested that tho Government might use their secretary for propaganda. To have a man like Mr. B. Darroch, who had a way of interesting the children, doing such work would have a significant effect. He was not able to devote much time to such work as it was, and she was of opinion that much good could be done by giving effect to the idea. (Applause.) 7 Sir William Eraser said there was a good deal in what Mrs. Earle had said. As they all knew, he was a retiring member of the executive, and did not know whether he could do much, but what he would do, he promised, would be to suggest the .idea at the first Cabinet meeting if given the chance. Rousing the Men, Colonel A. P. Koberts, noting the'frequent reference to the ladies, pointed out that it was the ladies who were doing all the work of the league. It was suggested that the Government should appoint someone to do propaganda work. He thought it was the duty of the league to find a man to do tho work. Tho men might now and again supply tho funds, but that was nothing compared with the energy that the ladies threw into their work, particularly when any warships visited these waters.' He maintained that the men of the Navy League were not doing the they should. The chairman said that it was a matter Colonel Roberts himself might give attention to. A special vote of thanks to Mr. Harcpurt for his uniform courtesy and consideration to members of the ladies' auxiliary was moved by Mrs. Hosking (chairwoman of tho auxiliary), wlio also moved a vote.of thanks to Sir' William Eraser for presiding.