NAVY LEAGUE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23186, 27 April 1945, Page 2

NAVY LEAGUE

Timaru Branch ANNUAL MEETING Since the Timaru branch of the Navy League was formed on March 27, 1944, a total of 168 members had joined, stated the report presented at the first annual meeting of the branch last evening. The membership included 20 junior members at Cave and 30 boys of the St. Saviour's Home. During the year £ll5 had been collected and a credit balance of £43 remained with which to begin the new year’s work. “In order to raise funds to carry on the work of the League, a Paddy's Market was held on Trafalgar Day and £47/10/- was raised,” continued the report. “When a minesweeper visited Timaru several outings were arranged for the officers and men of the ship. On those occasions when overseas vessels were calling at Timaru, members of the League offered hospitality and entertained members of the crew. Seamen on furlough have been similarly entertained when passing through Timaru on express trains. These efforts have been appreciated by those travelling. Forty parcels were sent to officers and men serving in the New Zealand Navy and the Merchant Service. Many letters of thanks have since been received. On several occasions the next-of-kin of Navy and Merchant Marine personnel have been entertained. Many of the activities of the League have been arranged by the members of the Women's Auxiliary’ whose work is appreciated by the executive.

“During the year Miss M. W. Fyffe, who was appointed secretary at the inaugural meeting, resigned on account of health reasons, and Mrs A. J. Parris was appointed secretary’. The efficient work done by Miss Fyfe in establishing the League is appreciated by the executive. “From our experience of the work done during the first year of the existence of the Timaru Navy League, we are of opinion that there' is a definite place in the life of the community for the League. With the increase in the shipping activity in Timaru that should soon be evident, the work of our organisation should increase,” the report concluded. “The present satisfactory number- of members must be maintained if the activities of the League are to be continued.”

Election of Officers

The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr W. B. Cunningham; vice-presidents, Messrs A. G. Tait. W. G. Tweedy and G. A. N. Bolderston; treasurer, Mr C. F. Smith; committee. Misses M. W. Fyfe, L. Cartwright and A. McCallum. Mesdames R. Stout, J. C. McKenzie. M. F. Newton. A. J. Parris and G. Meade. Dr. J. C. McKenzie and Messrs A. Morton and R. Wood.

A tribute to the services during the year of Mr A. G. Tait, who did not seek re-election as president, was paid by Mr Bolderston. Mr Tweedy congratulated the first year’s executive on the work they had done. He had been pleased to hear last year that a branch of the Navy League had been formed in Timaru. In his work overseas as Red Cross Commissioner in the Middle East, he had met many men of the both navies. When in convov it had been a great consolation to have naval protection. He hoped the good work begun in Timaru would be continued.