MR. BALFOUR ON THE NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1916, Page 2

MR. BALFOUR ON THE NAVY.

"BRITAIN PREPARED."

(The Times, London, December 30, 1915). It was a pleasant sight to see the name of "The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour" put up as the 5.15 "turn" at the Empire Theatre yesterday afternoon, and enthusiastic cheers arose as the First Lord of the Admiralty was "discovered" in a grove of palms. But the incongruity of his frock-coat in this "somewhat unaccustomed theatre of operations" to use his own expression, was quickly forgotten as the large audience which has assembled to view the cinematograph films entitled "Britain Prepared," which have been taken with the permission and cooperation of the War Office and Admiralty, listened to the description of the work done by the Navy and what it means for the future of mankind. So fur as the Navy is concerned, Mr. Balfour remarked that ho had done his individual best to further the representations of life in the Grand Fleet, and it is to be hoped, as he said, that these piotnres will do much in this and other countries to put the great operations of war that are now going on in their true perspective.

Mr. Balfour, who spoke just before the naval part of the film was shown, said: "Though I appear on this to me rather unaccustomed theatre of operations (laughter), it is because ia my judgment the spectacle you have already witnessed and I think even more the spectacle you are about to witness is something more than an afternoon's amusement for idle folk. The wonderful photographs that you have seen and those you are about to see, marvellous as examples of the photographer's art are big with lessons of the deepest import to us and to the world. (Cheers). What have we not given for a perman-. ent record of the great deeds done by our Army in Flanders or of such marvels of heroism as the New Zealanders and Australians have performed in Anzac.? (Cheers). ... The portion of the Grand Fleet which you are about 'to see is actually engaged in a great operation of war. On it as you will see is represented to the life depends the whole of the operations carried out by the Allies from Archangel in the north far round to the Persian Onlf. I am convinced that such representations as you are about to see which I have done my individual best to further will do much in this and in other countries to put the great operations of war that are now £oing on in their true perspective. . . . That is the lesson which I desire to inculcate this afternoon, and if what you see after I have left this stage gives' you a clear and concrete image of the general and abstract truths which I have to the best of my ability tried to lay before you I shall feel this entertainment is something more than an entertainment, it is a deep and vital lesson to all who are interested in the future of mankind."

The New Plymouth season of "Britain Prepared" films commences at the Theatre Royal to-night. The box plan is at Collier's.