NEW COMMODORE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1932, Page 8

NEW COMMODORE

MESSAGE TO DOMINION. KEEP WATCH; HAUL TOGETHER. (By Telegraph —Ber Brens Association) WELLINGTON, April 26. I always like to picture the British race as a fine old oak tree, the hole .standing ior England and the spreading branches her far-reaching Dominions. And the sap in the tree is rising again. We ace all together in this, Britain and her Dominions, and I would add to .vour motto: "Keep watch, haul together, and keep smiling.” These remarks were made by Commodore I*'. Burges Watson. D. 5.0., when replying to a welcome extended to him hist evening by the Wellington branch of the Navy League. The president, Air W. Perry, said it afforded him the greatest pleasure, on behalf of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, to extend a hearty welcome to Commodore Burges Watson, the new Commodore of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and in that welcome he wished to include Captain Sinclair Thomson, wflio was joining the Naval Board as second member. Mr Perry said that many probably knew that Commodore Burges Watson was a distinguished naval officer. He was recently flag captain on H.M.S. Nelson, and during the war saw active with the destroyers. New Zealand had a 1 wavs been vorv lortunate in its Commodores. and he knew that Commodore Burges Watson would maintain the traditions of his predecessors.

The Mayor’s Welcome The Mayor. Mr T. C. A. llislop, said h e regretted the departure m RearAdmiral Blake, who, apart from his Naval duties, had established strong personal friendships, which had enabled them to get more closely behind those objects which the Navy League carried out in this country. He understood that Commodore Burges Watson looked with horror on public speaking, but was perfectly at home "hen speaking on his own quarter-deck. He assured him that they were all behind the Navy League, and behind him in the desire to maintain naval standing in these waters as it at present existed. Commodore Burges W atson said he regretted that his wife and daughters uere not present to enjoy the cliarniiu" company of those present. He was sure that the league was alive to the prime necessity of keeping a strong navy. “Your motto is ‘Keep watch’, and to find a strong Navy League here is extraordinary encouragement, and some thing for which f am grateful,” the Commodore said. “I love my profession ‘or itself, and for the reason that father and son we have been in the Navv for two hundred years. I am delighted to be here, as it may interest you to know that my mother was horn in Auckland in ISo-l and 'resided there for thirteen years before she went to Sydney. I do not tell you that in order to curry % vour, as I know that already you do your utmost for vour division of the ltoval Navy.

When Trouble Came, “As I mu fresh from Homo.’’ continued the Commodore, “it may interest you to know of tin* di'lieult and strenuous time which has been experienced there. The financial crisis occurred about a year ago, but it was not until the autumn that the position bneam ties,,orate. The Continental countries lost faith in Britain. and a blizzard came which almost overwhelmed ns. and it was not until November tlini ruin was staved oil “What enabled us to parry the blow was the general elections. The result brought about political unity, and (bis meant national unity. The Government put a heavy tariff on foreign goods and called on everyone to make sacrifices. With that prayer came the income tax—and it was a swinging onehut the manner in which it was paid astonished even, the Revenue Departmen, and soon they were able to put things on so good a footing as to ensure that the Budget would be balanced, Foreign confidence returned and industry revived and unemployment decreased. Soon a quarter "I a million people’were absorbed. Recently, in answer to a Parliamentairy question, it was stated licit -lb loreign firms were producing good in Knglaiul behind the tariff walls. All this meant, a return to prosperity and good business, and the recent trade lair, patronised b v the Royal I'amily, was a triumphant success. “This political and national unify has meant a most extraordinary recovery. . . It lias always been sin with Britain when she lias bad to light with her hack against the wall.’’