CELEBRATION OF TRAFALGAR DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14809, 12 October 1911, Page 4

CELEBRATION OF TRAFALGAR DAY.

Sir,—The Executive Committee of the Navy League have decided to make a public appeal for the observance, throughout the Empire, of Trafalgar , Day. The suggestion has received widespread., support from influential and prominent 't citizens, and it is confidently hoped that the celebration in some degree or other of the memory of Nelson will arouse universal patriotic feeling. .. ■ - ■. a . . The primary object aimed at by the committee of the Navy League is to bring home to the mind of the British people the dominating significance of sea power in our national and imperial life; to make more completely understood the close relationship which exists between our Imperial prestige and the efficiency of the navy, and to impress the popular _ imagination with the fact that the navy is our great and only national insurance, and that upon it the continuance of our industrial vitality and our commercial vigour depend. • There can be no question that the celebration of an event so momentous as the battle of Trafalgar, and a memory to revered as that of Nelson will commend itself to the- public spirit of every British man and woman.

•The Executive Committee urge: — 1. That wherever possible public meetings should be held and addressed by prominent local people. These meetings to be entirely non-party in character, and confined solely to an appeal for widespread recognition of a vigorous naval policy as a vital necessity of the nation's existence, and as the best means to do honour to the memory of Nelson. ■ - .*.■ 2. That school fetes and demonstrations by school children should be organised, _so that the mind of ; the* rising generation should be directed towards the realisation of what the name of Nelson recalls. 3. Tlms decoration of public buildings by flags and scrolls bearing the ever-treasured legend, " England expect that every man will do his duty." 4. The encouragement of the exhibition of flags and similar mottos on - private houses. , The Navy League most earnestly hope that the public response to this appeal will be such as will in very few years raise Trafalgar Day to the position of a great national naval festival. P. J. Haxxox, Secretary. London, August 29.