GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1919, Page 7

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

PRESENTATION OF NAVY LEAGUE FLAG- ..,'. At the Girls' High School yesterday Captain Andrews, of the Karamea, on behalf of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, presented the school with a New Zealand flag in honor of the school branch of the Navy League having attained a membership of a hundred. The presentation was made in the Assembly Hall in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs C. H. Burgess), Mrs Sladden and several members of the Board of Governors. Mr Sladden (chairman of the Board of Governors Jin a short speech introduced Captain Andrews. Addressing those present Captain Andrews said that he had been deputed by the Wellington branch of the Navy League to present a New Zealand flag to the school on its attaining the distinction of a branch of 100 members. He said it was a great thing to have people in the colonies taking an interest in the navy, which was the thing on which the whole Empire was based. It was the backbone of the nation. We were all proud of our old naval heroesRaleigh and Drake, and Grenville who put up such a splendid fight in charge of the Revenge; but our naval men of to-day had every bit as much spirit and bravery. They were men of the bulldog breed, and it was up to us to see that they had all the equipment necessary when they fought for us. The late war had proved the value of the navy, and we must see to it that its power was kept up, if only for the protection of future generations. "If our navy had not been prepared," sajd Captain Andrews, "we would have been knocked out in six months of war!" The captain then presented Miss B&rr with the flag, saying as he held it out: "The red is for the which has been shed; the white is for the justice of our cause; and blue is the color of the sea." (Applause.) Miss Barr thanked Captain Andrews for his interesting address and said that morning would be one of the school's valued memories and the flag one of its most cherished possessions. The school now possessed two flags, the one presented that morning and a Union Jack presented by Mr Sladden. Miss Barr then asked the girls to show their appreciation of Mr Sladden's gift by a good clap, which they did very heartily, Mr Burgess, who was invited to speak, warned the girls that as the ''Women's Parliamentary Bights Bill" was before the House, with a fair chance of being passed, they would probably some day take an active part in politics. "Take my advice," said Mr Burgess, "and learn to t&iK, Just, a little, about everything under the sun." He urged all to honor the flag. It was not merely the bunting and the colors whioX should be revered., but what stood behind them and that was the British Empire. A man who had no respect for his country's flag had not much respect for himself. God save the King meant God save our country and us. Perhaps the people of the Dominion did not quite Tealise how much they wer* indebted to the navy, which had never we failed in its duty, and had kept the fl"? flying all through the terrible years of the war. Mr Burgess then .asked the hockey team to give three hearty cheers for Captain Andrews, the representative of the Royal Mercantile Marine which had so loyally co-operated with the navy. Quite an impressive scene followed when Captain Andrews unfurled and hoisted the flag. Afterwards the captain and other guests were entertained to morning tea by Miss Barr.