NAVY LEAGUE WAR FUND APPEAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17934, 30 October 1918, Page 6

NAVY LEAGUE WAR FUND APPEAL.

SO SHI VOITOB. Sir, —I trust that the following letter will have the effect of making one and all realise why and how they have lived their ordinary lives during the last four years. Day by day it must become more apparent to one and all that the' future of the British Empire rests on tho maintenance of the Supreme Navy, and that we living at the farthest away point of the British possessions, are amongst those whose existence must pass away unless Britain commands the routes by which we transact our commerce. New Zealand has done well during the years of the war in sending Home substantial sums for naval funds, but I question if there is 1 per cent of her population who realise how little our safety has cost us in years gone by, or even during the present crisis. For many years before the war this Dominion paid at the rate of 5s per head for naval protection, as against 20s per head in Great Britain. Our quota, was, therefore, infinitesimal compared with the benefits we received. Is there a single subject in New Zealand who has not directly benefited, whether he be a banker, landowner, merchant, manufacturerj an independent person, or one earning his living by the sweat of his brow? How much more now, therefore, .are our heartfelt thanks due to our gallant Navy and merchant service? New Zealand has a population of over a million. Ono shilling per head would give £50,000 towards the Navy League War fcund, and not a soul would feel one penny the worse off. Surely this is not asking too much. The Royal Navy cannot go begging, but the Navy Leaguecan and does for the dependents of tena of thousands of men who have losa their lives at sea during the war—and for whatP To savo England and the outlying portions of the Empire froma fate row of us care to consider. In our 'position of comiort and safety wo are very apt to overlook the rensona for such benefits. Consider for. a moment, would you rather do your duty towards the dependents of those who have given their lives for you and for the good of the whole world, or would J you prefer to lot the State force tyo'u to contribute towards their maintenance P Remember, without a supremo Navy we would have been by this time under the greatest tyrant the world has ever known, and the subjects of a nation which in its present state is not worthy of existence, and a menace to the freedom of the world.

No direct appeal has been made by the Canterbury branch of the Navy League since June, 1916. The present appeal is at the special request of the head office of the League in London, and for the following objects:— 1. To give financial relief to dependents of officers and men who have lost their lives in action or under circumstances equivalent to action during the war. 2. To give relief to seamen and marines who have been seriously wounded or incapacitated during war. 3. To provide for the education of children of officers and seamen who have lost theijf lives in action or on active service during the war. Tho committee is composed of:— The president of the Navy League (ex officio) The chairman of Executive Commitrtee of the Navy League (ex officio)

Honorary treasurer of Navy League (ex officio) Admiral the Lord Beresford The Lord Sydenham Admiral th© Hon Sir E. K. Fremantle A. Shirley Benn, Esq., M.P. Almeric Paget, Esq. Monro Coats, Esq. James Coates, Esq. (representing New Zealand), assisted'by a Co-operated Ladies' Advisory Committee, who are directly responsible for all moneys received at the head office, no matter from. what source or for what purpose, and for the proper administration thereof. There is also a Ladies' Emergency Committee who look after the men who are on active service and interned. Cheques and postal notes or cashwill bo most gratefully received and acknowledged by the secretary of the Navy League, 119, Worcester Street, Christchurch.—-Yours, etc., ALEXANDER BOYLE, - 1 President.