LEAGUE AND NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 6

LEAGUE AND NAVY.

There are still some who do not quite realise that support of the League of Nations is compatible with belief in the maintenance of national defence forces. These twin loyalties were discussed at a meeting of the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Association yesterday, when the headmaster of the Waitaki High School moved a resolution expressing sympathy with the League and suggesting to teachers that pupils should be familiarised .with its organisation, achievement and possibilities. Mr. Milner explained that he was a supporter of the Navy League as well as the League of Nations, but the resolution did not satisfy the headmaster of Wellington College, who thought that in this form it might be regarded as propaganda against the Navy League. At his suggestion the resolution was prefaced with a recognition of tiie necessity of maintaining an efficient navy, and in this form it was carried unanimously. Mr. Cresswell's suggestion was wise. It is true that there is no conflict between the two loyalties.' Adherents to the League of Nations include numbers of sailors and soldiers. However, -where children are concerned, every care should be taken to make it plain that support of the League does not imply hostility or indifference to national defence. _ It is most desirable that something should be said about tbe League in the schools. It is not only that this country is a mandatory under the League. It is that the League, which is the chief hope of the world, will never succeed unless it has an enlightened public opinion behind it. But if the child is to be taught the truth it must be instructed in the limitations of the League as well as its achievements and possibilities, and made to understand that so long as there are these limitations, the Empire cannot afford to put off all its armour.