NAVY LEAGUE. ANNUAL REPORT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10751, 23 November 1928, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual meeting of the Gisborne branch of the Navy League will be held in the Hydro Electric Coy.’s board room, at 4 p.m. to-day, when the following report will he presented:— “The roll number lor the year was 89 adults and 391 school children. Three members, Messrs C. E. -Armstrong and Thos. Jex-Blnke and Airs L-. Newman, died during the year, and the committee sent messages or sympathy to the bereaved families. Mr Armstrong had for many years acted as judge of drawing in the annual Nelson Day- competitions. “Afr Foote, now visiting England, was asked to represent this branch at the Overseas Conference and the Nelson Day celebrations' of the League. The conference, however, has been postponed for a year. ‘ ‘Competitions in essay writing and drawing were held in October last- and again this year in connection with Nelson Day celebrations, and the prizes won were presented at a fathering of school members in the Alajestie Theatre. A programme of pictures followed the presentation. King’s Birthday was also commemorated for the children with a programme of pictures following a short address by Canon Paeke, vice-presi-dent. ‘ fn reply to a communication from the naval secretary, the branch agreed to assist men retiring from the Navy in New Zealand by investigating confidentially for them business propositions offered to them in this district. “Unfortunately, no member of the branch could lie found able to go to Wellington to represent the branch at the annual conference. At this meeting the Government was congratulated on its extension of the Royal Naval Reserve to Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and was urged to give hoys entering on their cadet training in the four main centres the option of undergoing seatraining as. sea cadets in place of the ordinary military training. ft was also decided to recommend to the Government the encouragement both of commercial aviation transport and of aeroplane clubs for young men. This would not only increaso the prosperity of the Dominion, but would also make available in time of necessity , a supply of semi-trnin-r<l personnel with an air sense. The next annual conference will bo held in Auckland. . “On the occasion of the visit of H.M.S. Diomede to Gishorne in April, the men were taken in sections for a drivo round the Flat/;, the League organising the work and the Borough Council paying expenses Tn conjunction with the Victoria League, this League invited the men to attend the dance given in honor of Afiss Norma Wilson, who was leaving to take part in the Olympic Games. “The League joined in the movement for the observance of Empire Week and was represented on the committee by its secretary, and also gave its support to the celebrations n Cook Anniversary and Armistice. Day. “The balance to credit of the branch on June 30 was £27 15a Id. Outstanding subscriptions amounted to £3l 19s 6d.”