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Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1932, Page 6

NAVALS HOME

OPENING CEREMONY

AUCKLAND, September 7

~ “The sailor is; not a benighted heathen, neither is he a plaster saint,” said Commodore F.. .Burgess Watson, officers ‘commanding the New Zealand Divijiiori of .the Royal Navy when ..opening the. new. headquarters of the. •Flying Angels Missions to Seamen.

“TrafalgarlWas won by seamen, not by angels,’’‘'said the Commodore. ‘‘The men who man our ships to-day are the .direct .descendants of those men of Trafalgar., J The war proved it. l r ne, British Navy finished the,, war with its morale whole and unimpaired. men of navy -showed the:. : same • yin- 1 *- ripite-’ tif • the toll" bf ’ submarine warfare, torpedoed crews signed on again and/ , again. The men of the Royal Navy i and the- men navywere the same ,men from the same , hardy stock, though they served in different ships. One could not separate the Royal and mercantile navies. However diverse- their "ways in., days of peace, in war they were one and indivisible. In war as in peace, • the mercantile navy carried the nation’s vial commodities, including the nation’s food, with the King’s .ships coverng them.

CHANGES. “As our ships have changed in fashion, sd, have our sailors,” said 'Commodore Burgess' Watson. “Our grandrathers thought; they were not living the life of gentlemen unless they! ,went to; bed full of port wine and half-tipsy. Our sailors, after an old-time protracted voyage under* sail, went ashore on an orgy full'of joy, looking far t’ e i leasure so long denied i tlieni d They sought it'in chunks. As ai 1 nation we have become far ‘more sober. 'Athletics, ganies, hiking and the great enjoyment of the outdoors are -taken part iii by all. The seaman ’copies ashore as full of joy as ever, but he does not want an. unrestricted orgy,. . He .wants . ganies, cricket, cinemas, and a, quiet drink. He want a place where lie can be assured oil a welcome. That is where this club comes in.”