NAVY LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8608, 19 December 1913, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING “UNITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL.” -The annual meeting of tho Wellington branch of the Navy League was held at the Town. Hall yesterday afternoon. The Mayor, Mr J. P. Luke, presided over a small attendance. Apologies for absence wore received from, among others. His Excellency the Governor, Captain Carr, R.N., the Minister for Defence (the Hon. J. Alien}, and the Attorney-General (the lion. A. L. Herdman). In moving tho adoption of tho report, which has already been published, tho chairman said that he knew that there was a great regard in tho city for the Navy League. It was absolutely necessary for tho peace of. the world that the Navy of Gre;u Britain should reign ■ supremo. The Dominion of New Zea.and should bo associated with the British people in connection with the naval programme. This spirit was cemented by tlyo fine gift to the Empire recently made by Sir Joseph Ward on behalf of the people of Now Zealand. The Dominions were endeavouring to train their own officers for the Navy, but they had no intention of going on their own. Ail were firmly patriotic to the Fatherland, and this Reeling was greatly enhanced by the .visit of H.H.S. New Zealand to the Dominion. Sir Joseph Ward seconded the motion. lie congratulated the prizewinners and expressed pleasure at the satisfactory position of tho league He was a- .firm believer in the old saying, “United we stand, divided we fall.' 1 The solidarity of the British Empire depended on the co- 1 operation of her colonies. Though he. heartily wished to the contrary, he thought that New Zealand would not for many years be able to support an individual Navy of its own. Ho commended the league in its support of the principle of one all-powerful British Navy* tinder one control as the most effective and least _ expensive means of guarding tho Empire’s interests throughout the world. It_. was the duty of all in responsible positions to do their utmost to maintain tho high status of the British. Navy. _ On the motion of Mr C. R. Smith, the following officers were rejected;. —President, the Mayor of Wellington ; vice-presidents, Mrs S. . A. Rhodes, Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. W. Fraser, Sir J. G. Findlay, Messrs J. G. W. Aitken, G. Shirtcliffe, W. C. Buchanan, M.P., J. P- Firth, J. B. Harcourt, T. M. Wilford, M.P.; hon.i secretary, Mr C. W. Palmer; hon. treasurer, Mr J. M. Butt; hon, auditor, Mr E. R. Dymock; committee, Mr J. B. Harcourt, Colonel G. F. 0. Campbell, V.D., Messrs R. Darroch, J. M. Butt, C. W. Palmer, D. McKellar, C. R. Smith ,J. T. Horn,Oscar Borer, H. S. Myers, Captain G. T. Hall, Captain R. L. Evatt, Major D. M. Poison. Mr J. B. Harcourt moved a vote of thanks to the treasurer, Mr Butt, tho auditor, Mr Dymock, and the secretary, Mr C. W. Palmer. He remarked that hut for the energy and enthusiasm of the latter, the Wellington branch of tho league could hardly have remained in existence. Mr Palmer, in responding, said that the keen interest taken by the juveniles was very encouraging. He said the league was greatly indebted to tho individual headmasters and to the sec-t-rotary of tho Education Board, Mr. Stewart, for their co-operation. Votes of thanks were also passed to tho press, tho shipping companies for carrying Navy League consignments free, and to the City Council. After tho conclusion of the formal business of the meeting, some forty prize books were distributed by Mrs J. P. Luke to tho boys and girls of the Navy League school branches who. had been successful in the essay com-* petition, “What Naval Disaster.; Would Mean, to the British Empire. Mrs Luke, in a brief address to the. juveniles, exhorted them to remember Nelson’s memorable signal and to “do their duty” through life. A full list! of the prize-winners appeared in the “Times” yesterday.