NAVY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17426, 21 September 1918, Page 13

NAVY LEAGUE.

OTAGO BRANCH. A meeting of the executive yesterday afternoon -was presided over by Mr J. A. Johnstone. • The Secretary reported that half-hour addresses had been delivered at the ' following schoolsArcherfield, St. Clair, iiorbury, High Street, Musselburgh, Oaversham, St. Andrew's, St. Hilda's, Mornington, Anderson's: Bay, and lantern lectures by Mr J. JefEery on behalf of the school branches at Lawrence, Maori Hill, Ravensbourne, Mornington, Benhar, Concord, and Green Island. . The interest of the sohools and public in this phase of the league's work continued unabated.

A letter was received from Sir James Allen stating that _ after further consideration of the extension of the provisions of the special financial assistance regulations to New ZeaJanders serving in' the British navy,: the Cabinet regretted that it could not see its way to so extend them. The following resolution from the Wellington branch was considered:—"This branch of the Navy League hopes that in the interests of the dependents of our brave 6ailors, the wool-growers of New Zealand will see their way to support the proposal made by Mr Newman,. M.P., to the effect that any_ surplus accruing from the arrangements with tile Home authorities should be devoted to a fund for the benefit of the sailors of the Royal navy and mercantile marine who have lost their lives or have been wounded in defence of the Empire during the war." After Mr Johnstone bad stated the position as it appeared to him. the following resolution was carried:—"That this branch, while sympathising with the resolution passed by the Wellington branch of the league, in the absence of fuller information, doubts the possibility of giving it effect."

On Mr Bridgeman's motion the name of Mr J. W. Smith was added to the School Committee.

"THE PRINCESS" ENTERTAINMENT. TO THB KDITOE. Stb,—'Your reporter in hia critique of "The Princess" starts with the suggestion that the Patriotic Society will get little out of the proceeds. Let us wait ior the baianoe sheet. I am not one to revel in "tinsel clink of compliment," but like fair criticism; and amateurs, some of whom travelled, at their own expense, long distances to take part in the performance, deserved mention. Your reporter suggests that the songs and dances were introduced, as he calls them auxiliary; but they are Tennyson's own, and are included in the dramatised copy. If he reads the poem, he will find after the song, " Tears, Idle Tears," the' Princess has the following lines: "If indeed there haunt about the moulder'd lodges of the past iso sweet a voice and vague, fatal to men, well needs it we should cram our ears with wool." If your reporter did not hear all the lines It may have been due to severe colds at times troubling several of the young performers. It was not because his ears were crammed with wool, as in that case he could not have heard the bitter promptings of the spiteful and envious that bubble in every line of his criticism.

. It would be a pity if he missed the poet's lines: "Better not be at all than not bo noble. Oh, lift your natures up. . Knowledge is now no more a fountain seal'd. Drink deep, until the habits of the slave, the sins of emptiness, gossip, and spite, and slander, die." We • have evidence that a vaudeville entertainment is treated more kindly by your critic; and perhaps we should not condemn that stage, for some of its productions a.re clever. Again, many may be driven to it by adverse circumstances (or by unjust critics). But it is not the stage we should aim for, and as a teacher of young people I look higher in selecting tlie works of Tennyson and other great poets, quotations from which are met with all through life and better understood and embraced when borrowed for rehearsal. I have ,been asked to repeat the performance by those who can enjoy the better works, _ and who nlso enjoyed the excellent renderings of Tennyson's songs by Mr Harold Browning's pupils, abont whom your reporter is silent. This brings to minil Bulwer Lytton's lines—

But well we know, and, knowing, we rejoice, The mightiest critic is the public voice. Awed, yet resigned, our novice trusts in you,

Hard to the practised, gentle to the new. May I commend these lines to your reporter's consideration when next he criticises the first appearance of 40 young performers? I am, etc., T. De Spong.