A NAVY LEAGUE FLAG

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 302, 21 September 1928, Page 12

A NAVY LEAGUE FLAG

PRESENTED TO KARORI SCHOOL

CEREMONY PERFORMED BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Bright sunlight and a gentle breeze made for very pleasant conditions yesterday when His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) formally hoisted a Union Jack presented to the Karori School by the Navy League. Scouts and Cubs of Karori formed a guard of honour while little Betty Donaldson presented a bouquet to Lady Alice Fergusson. Among those present were the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright) and Mrs. Wright, members of the Wellington Education Board, an members of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Navy League.

Mr. H. P. Dyett. chairman of the Karori School committee, welcomed Their Excellencies on their first official visit to the suburb. Sketching the history of Karori and of the school, he said a start had been made with 17 pupils but the number rose rapidly until now there were 565 on the school roll. On such an occasion as this, he said, patriotism to the Empire would be assimilated. Not one of the school children would, he believed, forget the day.

Sir Douglas McLean, chairman of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, in asking the Governor-General to unfurl the flag, said that such presentations were made to all schools which had attained a quota of 100 Navy League members. Karori School’s quota, however, was considerably in excess of this number. The Governor-General then hoisted the flag to the masthead, where it floated quietly on the gentle breeze. Before addressing the children His Excellency thanked the Navy League for the opportunity given him of making the visit. He bad visited dozens of schools, he said, but this was one of the few Wellington schools he had visited. Such occasions gave the children an excellent chance to realise the importance attached to the flag, repre senting as it did all we held most high —traditions, history, and race. If the children came to realise this import ance then the aims of the Navy League and other objects were indirectly obtained. Turning to the children. His Excellency explained what the Union Jack was and what it stood for. In the old days, he said, the flag was an emblem about which supporters might rally. Those in the battle would rather die than lose the flag standing for the cause for which they were fighting. Olden day ships sometimes fought with a flag at each mast so that if one were shot away others would remain. Often they were nailed to the mast, so that were a’ ship sunk, she went down with the colours still flying. The flag represented something for which they were pledged to fight and to defend until they were killed. It was always our pride to look upon it as Britishers, representing all we most valued, liberty, peace, good order, good government, and justice to all. What it stood for represented the ideals of our country and we were pledged to fight for the flag as It represented our country. Greatness was not in the richness nor the power of a country; it was expressed in the character and ideals of its people. The flag represented all that the children ought to be proud of nnd all that they ought to strive to become.

The announcement from the.Gover-nor-General that he requested a holiday for the children brought forth loud cheers. If the children tried to remember for what the holiday stood, then it would not have been wasted, he concluded. Mr. J. B. Grant, the headmaster of the school, thanked the Navy League for the gift and His Excellency for his attendance.

Following the ceremony tea was served in the Pftrish Hall nearby. Songs were well sung by the elder pupils of the school. His Excellency expressed pleasure at their rendering and asked for one to be sung again.