NAVY LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24431, 17 October 1940, Page 6

NAVY LEAGUE

ADDRESSES IN SCHOOLS CONDITIONAL ENTRY BOARD REVERSES DECISION (Special ro Dailv Times) \ WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. The decision of the Wellington Education Board not to allow representatives of the Navy League to address school children during school hours was reversed at a meeting of the board to-day, a condition being that there should be no canvassing for subscriptions or membership fees on school premises at any time. The matter was introduced by a le;ter from the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation, asking for immediate reconsideration, and another from Carterton suggesting the broadcasting of addresses during the school radio period. Mr T. W. McDonald moved that Navy League representatives should be admitted to the schools under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Education Board for one half-hour per annum, on condition that there was no canvassing for subscriptions or membership fees on school * premises at any time. Mr McDonald said he had been instructed by the president of the Returned Soldiers’ Associaiicn. The association still urged upon the board the desirability of allowing the Navy League to enter schools within school hours.

“ Glorious News ” Mr T. K. Moody, seconding the motion, said they had only just heard the glorious -news of the second success of H.M.S. Ajax against the enemy. The whole Empire was dependent on the navy, and they should do everything possible to encourage interest in it. Mr S. C. Hundman said he had objected to the commercial aspect of the question. One child would be able to afford a shilling to join the league, and that would give a sense of inferiority to those who could not. As that aspect was to be removed, he had no objection. , Mr R. Nicol said that at Masterton £59 had been collected. Of that, £ls had gone to pay the secretary. He objected to the membership fees oi 300 children being used in that way. He was not opposed to the league if trie commercial aspect were removed. Mr L. J. McDonald moved as an amendment that the board should ask the department to give effect to the Carterton sugges ion, but at the request of Colonel McDonald he agreed to- put this as a later motion.

An Invidious Position

The chairman, Mr W. V. Dyer, said he thought there had been a good deal of misapprehension about the whole matter. The Navy League appeared to have a good deal of support in' the schools, although it could not enter them during school hours. The principal objection to such an entry was the invidious posi ion created when one child could pay the membership fee and others could not. He was quite prepared to support the motion, so long as it was definite that there should be no conditions about children being members of Ihe league. The motion was carried without dissent. ,

Mr L. J. McDonald then moved that it be a recommendation from the board to the department that the department make provision for radio broadcasts to the schools by persons specially equipped to interpret the importance of current events and the contributions that are being made towards them by the various defence forces and other elements. This was carried without discussion. -v •"