NAVY LEAGUE PATRIOTIC FUND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 221, 6 June 1918, Page 2

NAVY LEAGUE PATRIOTIC FUND

AN EVENING AT THE PIONEEK \ CLUB. A very succcml'iil entertainment orgeuifcd by .Mrs. J. Darling was held in tho Pioncor Club last evening in aid of the Navy League Patriotic Fund for tho men of his Majesty's Navy iuid tho Merchant Service. Members of the Pioneer Club, the .Navy League, and friends interested in the cause wuro ninung thosq ivho were present, and the accommodation in tho common room was taxed to tho utmost. An excellent programme of songs and recitations had been arranged, Contributing'to it were Miss Caldovr, Miss Anderson, ami Mr. Pringle with songs, and Mrs. S. Hju'cpurt with recitations, all of which woro very greatly appreciated by their audience,, several contributions being given by each one, and encored. Tho accompaniments were played by Mrs, Minims. Additional interest was given to tho occasion by brief speeches made by Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, mid Captain Hnll-Tliompson, relative to the work of tho Navy, and, in tin? case of the former, the work ; 6f the Merchant Service. '

■ Ju tho course of hifl speech, Sir James Alien,, after conveying greetings from tho Dunedin branch of the Navy League, which was actively engaged,in working tor Ihe common objects of the league, said that the Navy nt least could not bo compared lo a voice crying in the wildernee.% for when war hroko out it at least was ready. When he had been visiting England in 1912 ho 'toad mot Lord Roberts and Sir Henry AVilson. lord Roberts was then engaged in his campaign for national service which, had he been listened to, would have prepared England to souio degree for tho times if 'stress which lay ahead of her. Sir Henry Wilson even then occupied u, prominent position, and was known as a man of intensely been activities. The Navy, us w<! all knew, had been persistently successful, awl was our first lino of defence. Britain also had every reason to bo exceedingly proud of tho sailors belonging to tho merchant service. They hnd done splendid work, and Sir James Allen expressed himself as having every sympathy with their determination to boycott tho Germans and German ships after tho war. They had sulfered greatly from the barbarities of .the Huns, and liad every reaeou to know how inhuman they could be. .

The Minister earnestly urged the Navy League to continue its activities to its utmost extent. Unless the Germans were thoroughly well beaten the peace of the world would be impermanent and wo could not nfford to lessen our activities, to be less on the alert. The trado routes of tho Pacific were vital and we would have to see that everything would be done to safeguard them und to enable us to retain our command of the seas. In tho future ho hoped to see Now Zealand taking a far greater 6hare in naval activities than she had ilono in the past, ■not only in regard to money,,but in men and s>hips: We could not afford to slacken, and it was but fitting that New Zealand also should enter iuto the British inheritance of great naval traditions. Captain Hall-Thompson told his hearers that the Navy had had to play a very different part in tbo war to that which had been expected. Before the war it had boen taken for granted that tho role would be that of guardian angel, of safeguarding the flanks of the Army, but instead it had had to 6tand" aside und play a waiting role. It was * most difficult one to play from the point of view of discipline. To keep the men keyed to the top-note, ready for the crucial moment which was so long in coming wi\s not by any means an easy thing. As they knew, the Navy had very greatly expanded since tho war began, und tho auxiliary services had had most of the fun, apart from'tho Jutland Buttle and the Zeebrugge and (Mend fights. Captain Hall-Thompson referred to the decrease in tho submarine sinkings in the narrow waters. Apparently the success ■which had attended tho Navy's efforts there had had the effect of driving them to wider waters. He did not llfiuk, however, that such efforts could last as they must so fa: , away from their base. Such efforts were more sporadic in character than anything else, he considered.

Deferring to the pessimism that had been expressed during the course of iecent events, the speaker was of the opinion that it was quito uncalled for. In all wars thore wore victories and reverses, and ivo had to take our share of the latter as of the former. "Even, if the Germans did. get to Paris," he cxclaiinrd, "w'iy, dash it all, there -m the Navy." Great applause attended the remark.

Following the speeches 'came more eonga and recitations, and Mrs. Darling made n,n appeal for the bottle campaign which has been started to further the league funds. Later supper was served, Mrs. ,T. Myers assisting Mfs. Darling with this. . ,

Sir .Tames Allen was accompanied by Lady Allen and their son nnd daughter-in-law. nnd Captain Hall-Thompson by Mrs. ITnll-Thompson and Jlrs. Keighley. Lady Stout was also. union" those wlio were present, and an apology was received from tho Mayor (Mr. .7. P. Luke) for his unavoidable absence, and that of the Mayoress, through illness.

All parents arc hereby cordially requested to encourage .Stationers and Storekeepers to push tlio sale of "Thinker" Brand Writing Tablets and "Thinker" School Exercise Books for tho nation's good—Bannatyne and Hunter; Ltd., wholesale agents for the "Thinker." -Advt. ' '