NAVY LEAGUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1943, Page 2

NAVY LEAGUE

INTERESTING CEREMONIES.

AT MAURICEVILLE WEST AND BIDEFORD SCHOOLS.

Interesting ceremonies were held at Mauriceville West and Bideford on Thursday afternoon when the schools were presented with Union Jacks in recognition of 100 per cent of the pupils having been enrolled in the Navy League. The presentations were made by Captain W. H. Hartman, 0.8. E., of the Merchant Navy, who was accompanied by the Rev B. J. Williams, Port Chaplain to the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy in Wellington, and Mrs S. R. Gawith (president) and Miss Sellar (secretary), representing the Masterton branch of the Navy League. The first school visited was Mauriceville West, where the visitors were received by the headteacher, Miss Grant, and the chairman, Mr Osborne. The pupils of the school opened the proceedings with a patriotic song and before leaving Catpain Hartman presented Stanley Williams, who had been a Navy League member for over six years, with a Long Service Badge. At Bideford. Miss J. Mulvaney, headteacher, and Mr McKay, chairman of the school committee, welcomed the visitors. David Percy received the flag and proposed a vote of thanks on behalf of the school, which was carried. In making the presentations. Captain Hartman congratulated the teacher and pupils on their membership and thanked them for the interest and help they were giving to the Navy League and the Navy. He also told them of some of the difficulties and dangers the Merchant Navy had to face travelling in convoy work. He urged them to remember that a strong navy was necessary, at all times, to protect the Empire and trade routes. In conclusion Captain Hartman expressed the hope that it would not be long before their flags would be hoisted to celebrate the coming of peace.