NAVY LEAGUE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 882, 7 December 1916, Page 2

NAVY LEAGUE.

I MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The committee of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League met last I evening, Mr A. Boyle presiding over a good attendance. The financial statement showed that the receipts since November 2 had amounted to £l7 3/7, and the expenditure to £l3 3/4. The account at the Post Office Savings Bank was £45 2/-. The financial statement was adopted. With regard to the league’s suggestion to the picture theatre proprietors, that the National Anthem should be played at the commencement instead of at the end of the performances, the .socre+ary reported that the management of His Majesty *s Theatre bad replied stating that the suggestion would be adopted. Accounts amounting to £l4 5/3 were passed for payment. The position of Timaru with regard to the league’s work was discussed, and it was pointed out that that centre had practically died out as far aS the Navy Longue, was concerned. It was decided) to 1 leave lit to the. chairman:'and Secrc- j taty to devise some means of reviving the Timaru- branch’s interest in' the] ledgue. The sub committee reported upon some proposed arrangements for the presentation of prizes won by school children in the recent Navy League Essay Competition. The committee’s report recommended that the Choral; Hall be engaged fol 1 the .purpose. Singing and dancing items will be arranged for. The function has now been fixed to take place on December 15, at 3.30 p.m. An'adddress will be .given by Captain Marceil.

The Rev, "Eliot Chambers addressed tlie committee upon an entertainment given recently at the Queen Mary Hospital. In .connection with the Navy League's work at the above hospital, the secretary stated that two entertainments had been given, for which the soldiers had been very grateful to the league. The financial side of the question had also been satisfactory-.

.The Rev. Eliot Chambers considered that unless the league had some definite object in view, it would soon be non est. He pointed out. that in England special ruen were paid to travel through the schools teaching naval history. These men illustrated their lessons by pictures, limelight exhibitions, etc. He urged that something on similar lines should be done here. Another point was that the members of the committee should endeavour to make up the wastage of the league's members. Members were leaving, and were not being replaced.

The chairman stated that, although he agreed entirely with Mr Chambers's contentions, he thought that New Zealand was not in the same position as England. Most of the members of the league in New Zealand were business men, who had very little spare time. Tt was decided to set up a sub-com-mittee, consisting of Professor Blunt, Messrs Marriner, Chambers, Boyle, and Captain Marciel, to go into the matter. A letter was received from the Wellington branch regarding'the raising of a fund for the purpose of giving the boys on H.M.B. New Zealand" an annual picnic. Tt was decided to bring the matter up at the prize presentation, wJiieh would take place on November 15. A letter was received from Sir .John Jellieoc, thanking the branch for its native interest in the welfare• of the Navy.

Tt was decided to 'keep the Navy Lteague War Fund open til] the enrl of tlio war. This fund, it -won stated, should have been closed on Trafalgar Day, but, as the committee had then been aware of several sums yet to come in, it. had beeu kept opeji.