NAVY LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23499, 13 May 1938, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING OF BRANCH DOMINION AND EMPIRE DEFENCE The annual meeting of the Navy League (Otago branch) was held yesterday afternoon, Mr J. Sutherland Ross occupying the chair. There was a fair attendance of members, including a number of members of the John McGlashan College junior branch. ANNUAL REPORT The annual report stated: In February a conference of all New Zealand branches of the Navy League was held in Wellington. The delegates reported that the conference was the most successful of its kind held for many years, and at the conclusion a deputation waited on the Minister of Education and Marine (Mr P. Fraser) requesting that the Government be urged: (1) To contribute to a greater extent to the cost of the defence of the Empire; (2) to assist in facilitating the entry of New Zealand men both into the Royal Navy and the mercantile services: (3) to endeavour to establish a training ship in New Zealand waters: and (4)) to give recognition to the Navy League Sea Cadets. Mr J. Sutherland Ross was elected president of the conference of the New Zealand branches for the ensuing year. The usual service was arranged at the War Memorial on Trafalgar Day, and appreciation was expressed to Mrs E. C. Reynolds, who placed the anchor thereon, and to the members of the Terra Nova Sea Scouts who assisted at the function. During the year the following ships visited this port: H.M.A.S. Australia. H.M.S. Leander, H.M.S. Leith. H.M.S. Achilles and H.M.S. Wakakura. Official calls were paid on behalf of the branch to all of the above. Entertainments were arranged for the petty officers and men of H.M.A.S. Australia and H.M.S. Leander. A successful ball, held in honour of the captain and officers o: H.M.S. Leander, was well supported by members and friends. Letters had been received from the ships expressing appreciation of the hospitality offered by the Navy League. Visits to the ships were arranged for all Junior members. The sub-branch at John McGlashan College continued to function. In concluding, the committee felt that, in view of the tremendous sacrifice which Great Britain was so willingly making towards 'the cost of defence, this Dominion should not continue to expect so much fr 01 ? 1 the Mother Country and give so little. APATHY OF THE PUBLIC

“The navy is one of the greatest forces for peace in the world to-day, said the chairman, moving the adoption of the annual report. The past policy of disarmament had been regarded as weakness by other nations, but now the danger had been realised and an enormous effort was being made to recover the lost ground. -The question was whether New Zealand was fully conscious of the position. The Dominion was so far removed from the centre of world affairs that the people were apt to be lulled into a false sense of security. They were supine, and waited for someone else to do the job. England was making a terrific effort to protect the dominions, but we should do something to protect ourselves. It was our duty tosee that New Zealand was not the weakest link in the chain of Empire. It was bitter reading in the newspapers of the insults offered to British citizens and uniformed men by foreign nations. A few years ago such actions would have called forth severe punishment, but to-day they had to be borne, as the forces were not ready. In conclusion, he remarked that, since the last annual meeting, King George VI had been crowned, and the greatest naval review since July, 1914, had been held. It was good to know that once more the Empire had a monarch who was familiar with blue water. The need for keeping before the public the vital necessity of doing its duty in the matter of national defence was also emphasised by Sir Percy Sargood, who seconded the motion. It was disturbing reading the headlines about international unrest, and, if it was the hope of the British people that the civilisation for which it stood should be preserved, then they must be prepared to defend it. ; The annual report was then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr J. Sutherland Ross; vice-presidents—Sir Percy Sargood, Messrs J. Begg, R. S, Black, and R. G. C. McNab: committee—Mr W. Downie Stewart, Captain E. F. Watson, Commander F. Fraser, Mr A. C. Matheson, Lady Allen, Mesdames James Begg, R. S. Black, W. F. Edmond, G. Fitzgerald. J. E. Macassey, J. S, Monro, J. G. McGeorge, W. C. McKellar, T. McKibbin, E. C. Reynolds. G. R. Ritchie, J. Sutherland Ross, and E. F. Watson; treasurer. Mr W. F. Edmond: auditor. Mr V. E. Thomson, GENERAL The chairman referred to the visit of a French war sloop between June 1-6, and expressed the hope that, although the programme of official entertainments was already heavy, members of the society would do all they could to entertain the visitors., , SEA CADET MOVEMENT Referring to the international unrest which had been commented upon by previous speakers, Commander R. C Harding, of Christchurch, said that the Empire was up against certain European States which were dictatordriven. and the phenomenon which had to be expected was the decadence of these dictatorships. History showed that they did not last more than a few generations, and the question was who was to wield the weapons being forged by Hitler and Mussolini. These countries had to be regarded with suspicion, despite pacts and treaties. The salient features in matters of defence at Home was the vulnerability of London from the air. Mechanically, this was being remedied, but personnel was necessary, and a great volunteer movement had to be built up. England required 1,000,000 volunteers for this aspect of defence. It was in the matter of personnel in the Dominion that the Navy League could help, and the Sea. Cadet Movement offered an opportunity. The speaker then proceedeo to outline the activities of the Sea Cadets, emphasising the value of the disciplinary training to the young lads. Boys, he said, liked discipline, and the military discipline under which they were trained was an advantage to them in after life. It taught them to take orders in the realisation that it involved no loss of self-respect, and by that means taught them to give orders and to accept responsibility. He urged that steps should be taken locally to have a Sea Cadet troop formed. Commander F. Fraser (R.N.V.R.) offered to co-operate with the movement in various ways. Moving a vote of thanks to Coim mander Harding, Mr H. P. Kidson remarked that such a movement would appeal immensely to bqys, especially if they could get ready access to the sea and to boats. The abolition by the Government of the specialist groups in school corps had left a big gap and, probably, the Sea Cadetr could fill it to some extent. He also referred to the local troopi of Sea Scouts, suggesting that care should bo taken not to harm this movement and suggesting that co-operation would be valuable. In reply. Commander Harding expressed the opinion that there was room for both the Sea Scouts and the Sea Cadets, as the movements were quite different. The cadets were definitely wearing the King’s uniform, and the organisation and the discipline were dissimilar. The presence of the Scouts on the harbour would be welcomed, for it would give the cadets the stimulus of rivalry in their work.