WELLINGTON NAVY LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 73, 19 December 1928, Page 6

WELLINGTON NAVY LEAGUE

PRESENTATION OF FLAG TO MAURICEVILLE EAST SCHOOL.

Mauriceville East School was en fete on Friday night, for the annual breakup concert, which was held in the local Town Hall. Mrs. 0. Bunny and members of the Masterton Navy League committee, Mr. Strouts, vice-president of the Wellington branch, and Mr. Darroch, general secretary, were present. In the absence of Captain Cbudley, Mr. Darroch made the presentation on behalf of the Wellington executive, and complimented Mrs. Childs, the headmistress, her staff, and pupils on their 100 per cent, membership for 1928. It was very fitting, he said, that they should show such an interest in the Navy, and the Navy League, because were not many of them grandchildren of the first settlers in the district, founded in 1872. descendants of the old Vikings? It was also fitting, because the voluntary enlistment for the Great War was 100 per cent., and only two were rejected medically unfit; and one of these was a cripple. A fine monumant to those men of Mauriceville who dind, had been erected in the school grounds. The chairman, Mr. I. Cameron, complimented the school on its spirit of patriotism, and reminded the large audience of New Zealand's dependence on the Navy for the protection of its trade routes. The farmers were the first to recognise the necessity for adequate naval protection. ' Mr. C. C. Jackson, president of the Farmers’ Union, presented trophies to those pupils who had competed successfully in an agricultural competition open to the schools of the Wairarapa. An excellent programme was presented by the children, and Mr. Donald, representing the Education Board, expressed bis pleasure on behalf of the board, at the high state of efficiency of the school, _ and at their interest in the Roval Navy and merchant service.