THE NAVY LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 14

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

ACTIVITIES IN AUCKLAND.

WORK AMONG THE' -"YOUNG.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S INTEREST,

The annual, meeting of the Auckland branch of . tho Navy League, held last evening, was attended by tho GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Alice Fergusson. There' was a large attendance of members, Mr. A. M. Ferguson presiding in the absence through illness of the president, Mr. John Alexander. Reviewing the w6rk of the year the chairman of the branch, Mr. C. 11. T. Palmer, said they had not endeavoured to make a great deal of fuss about their Work. Their desire had been to carry on tho work of tho league in a quiet way.

"People wonder what tho Navy League does," continued Mr. Palmer. "Wo have in the Auckland Province 4000 junior members of tho league and every school with a hundred or more members is presented with a Unioni Jack or an ensign. Where great enthusiasm is shown, tho school is presented with a Navy League map of tho world, which is'considered ono of the finest of its, kind. Wo find tho children of Auckland schools are intensely interested in the sea, sailors and shipping-"

Referring to the .retirement from tho position of president of Mr. Alexander, Mr. Palmer said Mr. Alexander's long study of international affairs and his wide outlook had maclo him. a Navy League leader. Ho had been a tower of strength at conferences.

In a brief speech 1 Sir Charles Fergusson said in tlio old days it had been tlio function of the 'Navy League to hold up tho big stick to tho Government of tha day, and what was asked for was generally provided. It would bo a very, very bravo man who would do' that to any Government to-day, however. In theso days (lie talk was not of budding ships but of scrapping them. Tho problem of the Navy League was a very different ono from , that of (days gono by. Sir Charles said he..quite agreed with tho work tho Auckland branch was doing. This "was not ".a time to' agitate for; more ships. It was a.time, for (ho education of the young,, a. time to. tell thejn of tho glories of tho past and tho truo valuo of (ho Navy to-day.'lie hoped tlio branch would go oil increasing in numbers, and ho wished it everv possible success. Commander R. Nisbet then related (ho story of tho fight between tho British merchantman Carmdnia and tho German merchantman Cap. Trafalgar in the early days of tho war. Commander Nisbet was a gunnery officer o.i tho Carmania, and in vivid terms described the sinking of the enemy vessel. Official business was followed by a musical programme and supper.