NAVY LEAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 324, 16 January 1909, Page 6

NAVY LEAGUE

LIEUT. JvXOX'S Al)Mlr>.S. There was n good attendance, despite [it- rough weather, at the lecture given lit night in the Theatre lioynl by lieutenant Knox, K.N.U., with the obset of forming u brunch of tile Navy ienguu ill New Plymouth. The lecture .■iis iut.-resthg anil educative in the xtreme, tracing and illustrating by u erics of limelight pictures the developrieut of the liritish and foreign navies, 'ast and present ships of war, past and I iresent naval commanders, training iliips, training colleges, were all shown m the screen ami the pictures cxplnin•il. I.eiuteiiant Knox put in a pl'mi for lational defence, ami liis remarks were oudly apjilauded. The lecturer should «ave been well satisfied with the veecpiion of his remarks, the applause being frequent and hearty. The pith of the eeturc is contained in the following printed "Objects of the Navy League": —First: To bring home to everv man, ivoniau ami child in the liritish Empire, lhat the protection of commerce at sea is vital to the people of this country, especially to the farming classes. That ?<imiiiciw can be guarded only by a ■mpreniely powerful navy, able to assert t:hl to maintain the command of the «ea: second, to convince every taxpayer and every politician, that judicious expenditure npon the navy is. for the nation, only tin. ordinary insurance which tin sine person grudges h\ private affairs. nppli'"il to risks appalling in their nature and extent; third, to 'enlist, on national grounds, the support of all classes in maintaining the licet at the requisite standard of strength, and to denounce any shortcomings in this respect; fourth, to insist that Hie question of the Navy lies above and beyond all consideration's of party polities,'that a sudden development of naval strength is impossible, and that continuity of preparation is the essence of national security, and the only preventive of ruinous and discreditable scares; fifth, throughout the Empire to explain by lectures, by the dissemination of literature, by meetings, and by private propaganda, how naval supremacy, the heritage handed down by generations of British seamen, has h'cen alike the source of national prosperity and the sure safeguard of (he liberties of (lie people in periods of stress; sixth, and finally, by inculcating and strenuously upholding the principles of a great national policy based upon sea power, to bind together the scattered members of tli Kmpire into one great whole, united in interest as in heart, and prepared to maintain intact in territory and untarnished in I]onor, the splendid inheritance received from our forefathers.

During the evening, upon the motion of Messrs. J. B. Roy and F. P. Corkill, a branch of the League was established. The following members were elected:— Th Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch), Colonel Ellis, Colonel Okey, Major Malone, Captain Hood, Captain F. Ci. Kimhell, Captain Mcllnrdy, Captain C. T. Mills, Rev. F. fl. Evans, Rev. Spencer, Messrs. T. C List, F. P. Corkill, J. 11. Roy, W. A. Collis, F. Tribe, W. Skinner, J. C. JJnrov, W. Chancy, P. S. Whitcoiube, A. F. Watkins, W. D. Webster, F. J. Gilbert and J. Paton. At the conclusion of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried by long and loud acclanimation. upon the motion of Mr. W. G. Malone. The newly-formed branch of the League will meet this 'evening at 7.30 in Hie Town Hall, when Lieut. Knox and, Mr. C. W. Palmer (secretary of the Wellington branch) will be 'present. Membership fees are: Associate member, 5s per annum; full member. 10s (id per annum: school member Is per annum: each member receiving gratis Hie "Xnvy_ League Journal,' 1 and "other literature issued in support and encouragement of Hie movement.