NAVY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1914, Page 2

NAVY LEAGUE

CAPETOWN PRAISES NEW ZEA. LAND / (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, 15th September. Mr. Herbert Penny, who presided over the July meeting of the Capetown Branch of the Navy League, paid a remarkable tribute to the naval policy of New Zealand, according to the current number of The Navy. In the course of his remarks he said that the white inhabitants of South Africa are made up from the three great maritime races — English, Dutch, and French. There should be a vein of sea blood pulsating through the Union of South Africa as there is through the gallant little Dominion of New Zealand. But, alas! such is far from being the case,* and were it not for the efforts of the Navy League and a few ardent spirits in Parliament, nothing would ever be heard in South Africa as to the necessity of maintaining the supremacy of the Empire's Navy. There were many thousands of South Africans who had never seen the sea, and who were in ignorance of the vital importance of sea power. And this ignorance was encouraged by succeeding ministers, because it was " too Imperial " to talk of ships and navies. Where would brave little New Zealand be in the early future if its people were similarly encouraged to loose the bonds of Empire, and to disregard the vital importance of sea power? Ask her statesmen, and they will tell you that were it not for the protection of the Empire's Navy New Zealand would bo at the mercy of the first Oriental nation possessed even of a secondrate navy. " I thank God," said Mr. Penny, " that in New Zealand it is an honour and a dut-y for rich and poor, Prime Ministers and Civil servants, to join the Navy League, and. as "a magnificent and living sign of the work done we have H.M.S. New Zealand — a direct contribution to the British Navy. Her recent visit to South Africa was an object-lesson to our Ministers, and should have taught them how far ahead of South Africa New Zealand is in recognising its Imperial obligations." If time permitted, I could show that, in comparison with New Zealand, South Africa is far behind in its support of the Navy League— the one institution that gives its best tame and finances so that the people may be educated to know of the Navy and to recognise its vital necessity. Instead of the Prime Minister and other Ministers leading in its work as in New Zealand, hero in Soutli Africa they are evidently frightened to associate with the Navy League for fear of losing country votes, and even prominent members of £he Opposition think that they do their dnty if they tardily remit their annual subscription, absent themselves from every meeting, and from time to time send a yearly apology for non-attondance.