The Daily News FRIDAY, JANUARY 15. THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 324, 15 January 1909, Page 2

The Daily News FRIDAY, JANUARY 15. THE NAVY LEAGUE.

,'here should be no need lor us co reiiiiiil the people of Now Plymouth that jieutcnaul L.nox, 8.N.R., [or ten years ;ecretary r to the British Navy League, r;id tor the lour succeeding years oigausing lecturer, is to deliver an address .o-mght in tlic Theatre Koyal, dealing ivith the British Navy and the warships .if foreign Powers. A few words will explain u'hat the British Navy League is, iiiul for what it has been formed. The League is a nun-party organisation whose whole object is to endeavor to make the British people realise that sea power is vital to the existence of the Empire. The League was formed in I*ls. The Admiral of the Fleet, Sir (ieofl'rcy Hornby, U.C.8., was its first president, and Lieutenant Knox tin; first secretary, it must be reeogiuseil that the command of the sea is as vital to us Britons as the air we breathe. A supreme British Navy is our guarantee of peace; it ensures the safely of i>ui hearths and homes; it helps to guarantee the prace of the. world: the foundations of the Empire are laid .upon sea power. Defeat of the Imperial licet at t-.?a would mean the imperilling of tin Umpire's safelv. ami its probable disintegration. Coming closer home, \vc know that New Zealand is dependent for her existence upon the safe ca.r'agi of her produce over-seas to the Knglisl and foreign markets. IMcal 01 ins Navy would entail dislocation of tin Empire's trade, the cessation of 0111 over-sea trade, severance from our mar kets —our bankruptcy. These are eon

sidcrations which slwuhl prompt New Zealanders. and in this particular instance, the people of Taranaki. to join hands with Lieutenant Knox in forming a branch of the Navy League in Taranaki. with its headquarters in New Plymouth. Similar branches have been formed in Wellington. Olago. Cnntcrhury, Auckland, and other (daces, and Taranaki should not he behindhand, cspeciallv just now when the district rings with the praises of those gallant navals who iverr- of siu-h assistance to Taranaki in its troublous days. Tlio League

will have the effect of popularising (he Navy, and the excellent conditions offered to New Zealaudcrs entering the service should ensure our being represented amongst the men of the first line of defence. The local branch, amongst other things, could with advantage to the Empire do three things:—(l) See that a Navy League map is placed in every school in the Taranaki Education District.: (2) give prizes in all Taranaki schools for essays on the Navy: (31 make arrangements for conveving all available. Taranaki children on board every wai-shin that, may visit (Irs por--1 ion of the Dominion. There seems no reason wliv a branch of the League should not bo formed right awav. whilst "Mr. C. W. Palmer, the secretary of the Wiellin.stl.nn branch, is here and ready to give all the information required.