THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 5

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

MR H. F. WYATT'S VISIT. An enthusiastic meetiDg of the resuscitated Auckland branch of the Navy League was held last night to give a welcome to tlie tnvoy from the parent League in England. There was a good attendance of members. Mr Wyatt is on a world-wide mission as a special commissioner of the Navy League, and lias nearly completed the circle of tbe globe, lie began in Canada, and worked across to the East and Australia, whence he has come to New Zealand. It is his intention to address meetings here, and afterwards he will go South, visiting the four main cities, and probably Wanganui.

Mr W. J. Napier (chairman of the local branch) extended to Mr Wyatt a very hearty welcome to the shores of New Zealand. Mr Wyatt's reputation as an orator and an organiser had preceded hjm, had already reached the colony, and he would find himself heartily welcomed in every part of the colony. There was every reason to feel that his mission in Auckland would be successful, for the soil here was rich, though undeveloped, the harbour itself was an Admiralty station, and it was one of the most important seaports in the colonies. He assured Mr Wyatt that he woxild have the hearty and enthusiastic support of the League members.

Mr Wyatt, returning thanks, said that he was glad to be in New Zealand, because he had heard so much of its patriotism, and he hoped his mission amongst them would result in reviving the interest in the local League and establishing other Leagues in the different cities, and also to lead people to see the supreme necessity there was for their taking an active interest in the Navy, which interest could be most readily exerted through the Navy League. He explained that the League was a non-party organisation, including the. most progressive men iv England, and its recommendations to Parliament were always the result of scientific and expert investigation, and were always seriously considered by Parliament as coming from a responsible body. He added that his mission in Australia had been very satisfactory, and he had secured the support of the leading politicians of all shades of opinion, besides enlisting the great bulk of the citizens' sympathies. The Leagues in Australia were adopting with the objects of the League the role of . conservers of the naval interests of Australia and the Australian youth, and in such matters as the securing of adequate training ships for the colonies, so as to avoid the necessity of sending the boys Home at the early age of 12J years for naval training.

The meeting passed resolutions that the Chamber of Commerce should be invited to meet and hear Mr Wyafct on the subject of his mission to-morrow afternoon, and that a public meeting be arranged for Mr Wyatt after the Christmas vacation. A deputation was appointed to wait upon the Governor to ask for his attendance at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, and it was decided to issue invitations to the Mayor of Auckland and City Council, the chairman and members of the Harbour Board, and the Education Board, and to various local bodies and societies desirous of incorporating with the League, to attend the n;eeting at the Chamber of Commerce also if it could be so arranged.