NAVY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 23909, 12 June 1941, Page 10

NAVY LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Navy League (Otago branch) was held last night, Mr J. ■ Sutherland Ross presiding. The Chairman, in moving the adoption ■ of the annual report and balance sheet, expressed regret lhat the membership was not tenfold what it actually was. The present number was 218, whereas Auckland I had over 1,000. Many people when ap--1 preached asked what they got out of it. They got nothing, said the chairman, but '• (lie attitude thev should adopt is that of i “ What can 1 give?” Mr Sutherland Ross wont on to refer to the New Zealand War Council, which had been formed with the object of obtaining closer co-operation among the various branches of the league. This co-operation had not been so clearly in evidence as he would like to see, but matters in that direction were improving. The Chairman referred also to the remarkably fine work which Commander Fraser had done in connection with the Sea Scouts, to the'work of the junior branch and the women’s auxiliary, and expressed appreciation of the financial assistance given to the . league by the City Council and the Dunl odin Savings Bank. Mr James Begg seconded the motion. In i both peace and war, he said, the league per- , formed a useful function, but in peace time i it was very difficult to get anyone to take an interest in the Navy. In time of war . everyone thought’ of it, because it was the only thing which protected the commnni- ’ cations of the Empire while it was gathering its resources for a successful attack j ou the enemy, i The report was adopted. 1 OFFICE-BEARERS. 1 Tile following office-bearers were elected: r President, Mr J. Sutherland Ross; vicc-prc- - sidenls, Messrs W. Downic Stewart and - James Begg; treasurer, Mr A. C. Matlie- . I son; committee —Messrs C. V. Smith, L. J.

Smith, Commander F. Fraser, Mesdames J. Begg, W. F. Edmond, J. S. Monro, W. O. M‘K.ellar, E. C. Reynolds, J. S. Ross, E. F. Watson, R. S. Black, J. E, Macassoy, J. G. M’Oeorgc, T. M’Kihbin, G. R. Ritchie, G. Fitzgerald, Miss A. Mill; auditors, Messrs James Brown and Co.