NAVY LEAGUE FLAG

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1944, Page 6

NAVY LEAGUE FLAG

LYALL BAY SCHOOL AWARD

A Navy League flag was presented to the Lyall Bay School yesterday at the hands of the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall. He and Lady Newall were met at the entrance of the school grounds by the retiring headmaster, Col; A. B. Charters, and Mrs. Charters, the chairman of the school committee, Mr. W. O'Connor, and Mrs. O'Connor, and the president of the Navy League, Sir Charles Norwood, and Lady Norwood.

The visitors included the American Minister to New Zealand, Mr. K. S. Patton, and Commodore Sir Atwell Lake and Lady Lake, Mrs. W. Riddell, wife of the High Commissioner for Canada, Mrs. Appleton (Mayoress), Group Captain M. S. Calder, Captain A. P. Boyle, Lieut-Commander Olphert, Major G. R. Powles, Mr. G. Reid (chairman of the Navy League executive), Mr. R. Darroch (hon. secretary of the New Zealand Navy League War Council and of the Wellington Navy League), Miss B. Cable (secretary of the women's auxiliary), and Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp.

Mr. O'Connor welcomed their Excellencies and visitors.

Sir Charles Norwood congratulated the school on the great work it had done for the league, and its vow to love and respect the Navy and the Air Force. For that they must give credit to the headmaster, who had taught the children to associate themselves in such a practical way with the two great services.

His Excellency, in presenting the flag to the school, said he hoped the children would remember to support the league when they grew up, and so ensure the building and maintenance of the Navy.

"When this war started we had not enough ships because- people did not give enough money to, build them," he said. "When you grow up you must remember the day on which the school earned this flag, and remember to support the Royal Navy and the British Mercantile Marine, both of which have done so much in this war."

Among the crosses on the flag, continued his Excellency, was that of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, which sent out so many people to New Zealand in the early days. The day previous was St. Andrew's Day and it was also the birthday of Mr. Winston Churchill, whose classic utterances breathed the spirit and purpose of all that the flag stood for. "As Mr. Patton, the American Minister, is here, I know that you would like me to pay a tribute to him for all that the great American nation has done for us in this war," said his Excellency, who added a request that the children should have a holiday.

Col. Charters said that the honour to the school marked the proudest day of his life. He was proud of his large school family; it was hard for him to have to leave them. They had done what they could to help the Navy League. The school had gained over 133 members in a very short time. The school choir sang "The British Grenadiers" and "Aotearoa," a recent composition by Mr. H. Temple White. The visitors were served with an excellent afternoon tea by the cooking classes.