NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1922, Page 5

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE.

ATTCKIAITD BRANCH FORMES. COMMUNITY CLUB FOR CADETS. Last night an Auckland branch of the National Defence league wae formed. as a meeting presided over by the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson). Among those present were Major-<jeperal Sir Andrew Ruesell, Colonel Potter, Lady Stout, and Mrs. M. "H. Chatfield, one of the founders of the Community Club foT Cadets and Territorials. Major-General Ruseell reminded those .preecnt that one result of the war was •that while it had brought victory it also brought a very natural reaction, which made all very" loth to give up time to the prosecution of the defence of the country. Only the other day Genera: Haig had warned them that it' was a short-sighted policy to cut down too rigidly their expenditure on defence at the cost of future national security. They could not be secure unless they were prepared to make the necessary sacrifices. He hoped that they in Auckland would take the matter up seriously and form a. strong branch of the League. 'We thought," eaid the General, "chart when we first started this Community Club idea that while we were calling on the young men to sacrifice a certain amount of time to the fulfilment of their duty, perhaps it was up to us to do something which would show them they had our sympathy and cneouragement. Our youth' is our 'hope. These young fellows of the Cadete and Territorials are just of an age when a great deal can be done with them by the medium of a Community Club." Mrs. Chatfleld explained the activities Of the Community Club in Wellington. The Defence Department, she said, had given the club in Wellington a big building. 140 ft in length, and a kitchen had been set up in the centre, with a elide faeina both ways —one for the Cadets and the other for the Territorials. "Cheap refreshments were provided, and the canteen paids its way and a little over. Th_e club was open on Sundays also, whea the boys came in hundreds —and many of these boys had nowhere else desirable Jto go. On Sundays, however, there were no cards and no billiards, and everybody was expected to respect the day. There , were 100 hostesses in Wellington, who took it in turns to attend to the boys at the hall. The Mayor moved: "That thie- meeting of eitizene forma a branch of the National Defence League, and resolves itself into a committee, with power to add to its number, to further the work of the League, such League to provide Community Club lectures in Auckland for Cadets and Territorials." Mr. Vivian Potter, M.P., seconded the motion. In supporting the resolution, Mr. Sexton (president of the Returned Soldiers' Association) said the boys enjoyed camp far more than evening parades, and be was sorry the Government had seen fit to cut down the vote for camp-?. He thought the Community Club a splendid idea, and would show the young people that their elders were prepared to do something to help them. Mr. Stebbing apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. Cubten, S.M., and said that the Community Club had the unqualified approval of the Youmj Citizens' League. The motion was carried, and the following executive elected: Messrs. C. V. Hough'ton (chairman), W. L. Mitchell (lion, secretary), O. Xieholeon, A. M. Ferguson, and Professor F. P. Worley, Mesdames J. H. Gunson, W. H. PaTkes, R. Streater, end Wm. Coleman, with Mias Murray as aesietaijt hon. secretary.