NAVY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 26

NAVY LEAGUE.

OTAGO BRANCH. The annual report of the Otago branch of the Navy League contains inter alia the following: Tho secretary reports that the ordinary rovenuo from membershin subscriptions (£654 Is), and gifts (£l9 10s*4d), and including interest on deposit from the N.M. and A. Co. (£l3 14s 9d), totalled £687 6s Id, and the expenditure £615 12s. The membership showed: Members, 338 (last year 339) ;• associates, 81 (84); life-members, 7 (7); lady members, 51 (47); lady associates, 26 (25); school members (64 schools), 5133 (last year, 61 schools, 3481). Tho increase in tho school membership—viz., 1652—was noteworthy. The invitation to the league members in tho city and suburban schools to witness the film "Britain Prepared" being coincident with the date of tho branch's annual appeal to the schools, most probably accounted for a largo portion of tho excess; but many head masters advised that they were convinced that tho parents of their pupils were moro thoroughly alive than_ they once were to tho meaning and bearing of a supreme navy upon the Empire's continued existence. In which caso the lines of work consistently followed by the Otago branch were more than justified. Fourteen thousand copies of the Navy League School Quarterly were distributed to the school members, and about 1000 copies of "The Navy" monthly among the schools and adult members. Framed pictures —"The Sinking of the Emdcn" and "The Loss of H.M.S. Formidable"—were presented to each school branch. School essays: For these there were a record number of schools (81), and a record number of entries (4099). Six hundred and forty-four essays were sent to the examiner, who reported most favourably on the general character of tho work sent.in. Throughout the year the custom, commenced in tho year 1909, of arranging to give day addresses in tho primary and secondary schools, and lantern lectures once a week from May to October, had been regularly continued. The day address of from 15 to 25 minutes had, since the spring of 1914, dealt with the origin, progress* and effects of the war (in the earlier days it was to the growth of armaments, etc.), and the lantern entertainment (illustrated with speciallyprepared views), of about one hour and ahalf, to some particular episode or episodes of the great war. That for the past year sought to tell and illustrate the_ story of the Gallipoli campaign, with special reference to the Anzacs, and proved most popular, many thousands of the young people, with their parents and other adults, having heard and seen it. Tho loyal co-operation and keenly-sustained patriot : sm of lady principals, rectors, and head masters has from the beginning made' the above phase of the league's activities not a task, but a pleasure. Christmas gifts for H.M.S. New Zealand: In answer to an appeal made by Mr J. A. Johnstone (vice-president), Miss M. C. Ross, and the secretary to members of the league for funds to send a Christmas box to each of the men (about 1000) of H.M.S. New Zealand, the sum of £139 15s lid was received. With this money the branch was able to send half a pound of tobacco, half a pound of chocolate, and 50 cigarettes to each of tho seamen. Captain John F. E. Green had expressed, his sincere thanks to the branch for its kindly "thoughts and generous" gifts. British Seamen's Dependents' Fund. —The public appeal made by the branch and the Otago Daily Times for funds on behalf of the dependents and relatives of the seamen who had fallen during active service met with a response that was as generous as it was spontaneous. The sum of £14.731 was received locally in a brief period, the total for the dominion being £97.000, the whole of which was sent to the Home Office of the Navy League for administration. Other matters in eonncct : on with the league's work are fully set out in the report, which ta.kes the form of an interesting booklet, and contains an excellent article on tho world war.