VALUABLE HELP

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1931, Page 12

VALUABLE HELP

NORTHUMBERLAND AT NAPIER

SERVICES RECOGNISED

One of the most valuable sources of help in the emergency that arose at tho Hawkes Bay earthquake on 3rd February, -was from the ships at Napier at the. Time —H.M.S. Diomcde and the liners Taranaki and Northumberland. To mark the Dominion's appreciation of the splendid work dono by the sailors,, the New Zealand branch of the Navy League decided to present to each ship a. brass phitc bearing an inscription, stating that it was presented by the New Zealand Navy League to commemorate tho memorable services of the officers and men on the occasion of the disastrous earthquake at Napier on 3rd February, 1931. The presentations had previously been made to the Diomcde and Taranaki, and yesterday afternoon Ihu Northumberland's plant was presented by Mr. J. J. Dougall, Dominion president of the league. Owing to the better facilities available on board the passenger liner, tho guests were first entertained at afternoon tea on board the Ruahinc at the Pipitea Wharf by tho Dominion Superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Mr. J. H. O. Bond, and then moved to the Northumberland at tho King's Wharf. The ceremony took place on tho Northumberland's boat deck, where the ship's company paraded. In handing the- plate over to Captain H. L. Upton, master of the vessel, Mr. Dougall said that the Northumberland's men put iv a. solid week's work after the earthquake. "It is just what we expect fruiu the sailors," ho continued. "Bri-tish-sailors will take on anything and put it through successfully." NAVAL SUPREMACY. From the time of the defeat of the Armada till after the Great War Britain remained supreme on the sea, continued Mr. Dougall. She is no longer supreme because she had voluntarily given up her naval supremacy. It had practically passed to tho United States, and in a few years would have passed wholly to that couutry. Then, in her mercantile marine, said Mr. Dougall, Britain was now faced with severe competition. Despite the depressed trade conditions America was building 200 up-to-date liners, for which the Government was going to advanco two-thirds of the cost, to be paid back over an almost indefinite period at an interest rate of not more than 3i per cent. In addition the ships were subsidised at the rate of from six to ten dollars per mile. He had been charged, he said, with being a militarist and a disturber of tho people's peace of mind, but he reminded .his listeners that the watchword of the Navy League was "Keep watch." The British would not listen to warnings until the crisis was upon them. People said that there would be no more war, but he pointed to the troublo that had arisen in tho Far East and the inability of the League of Nations to settle tho dispute. TOKEN OF GOODWILL. He asked Captain Upton to accept tho plate in tho spirit in which it was given—to keep up the goodwill that existed between the Navy and tho mercantile marine, and tho public.

The Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) spoke on behalf of tho citizens of Wellington, and Mr. 11. D. Bennett, actingchairman of tho Harbour Board, on behalf of the board.

Replying for the ship's company, Captain Upton expressed thanks for tho honour that was being done to his ship. "I must stress, however, that we only did what any othor ship would have done," he said. Ho paid a tribute to .the spirit displayed by tho people of Napier after the disaster. About 100 men from tho town wero on his ship at th-e time, and they could uot get ashore quick enough.

Captain Upton also thanked the Navy League for the hospitality it was always ready to extend to sailors. He theu called for three cheers from his men.

Mr. Bond made a brief speech, remarking that the services given by the Shaw, SavilJ, and Albion liner Tarunaki must not be overlooked. Regarding the part played by the Northumberland he specially mentioned Captain Upton's leadership.

For the entertainment of tho visitors the ship's cadets were then put through their paces. Four short blasts from the siren—signifying "man overboard"—wero followed by the rapid lowering of a lifeboat, which picked up a lifebuoy. An alarm of fire in oue of tho holds, from which volumes of smoko poured, called for another exhibition of efficiency, and the visitors wore greatly impressed with the work done by the cadets.