The Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1904. A GOOD OBJECT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8104, 1 September 1904, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1904. A GOOD OBJECT.

We hope that the meeting held yesterday at Lytlelton may be taken, m a further indication that local interest in the Navy League is reviving. For, as we have repeatedly urged, there are many directions in which a real active branch of the League could do good work in Ohristchurch. The absence of a definite object, which may have hampered! the branch in the past, no longer presents a) serious obstacle to its welfare. The branch, has an object in view, and it Iks with its members whether it will be successful in making that object a rallying point round which a laurge section of the people of Canterbury can 'be induced to gather. . Naval efficiency is the watchword of the League in England, and naval efficiency, should also be the watchword: of the colonial branches; But naval efficiency, though it has an attractive sound 1 , is somewhat too vague to; satisfy tho average colonial. He desires something more definite on which to concentrate lits energies, and it was the lack of this which, "we believe, was chiefly instrumental in causing his interest in the League to languish in the early days of its existence. If our theory is correct, we are probably right in saying that the want has been supplied by the agitation which is now proceeding in the direction of improving the gunnery of the Navy. This is a subject in. which the ' colonial public feel that they can interest themselves, and 1 we shall he surprised! if it is i ouiid impossible to develop this feeling into a. comprehen-siv-a national movement. At present the mles of the Navy . prohibit gunners from receiving prizes presented by the public. It is hoped, -how'i ever; that 'before Jong this restriction ■■will be withdrawn. When this 'happens, the opportunity of the Navy League will come. It- will *be in a position then to set about assisting to improve the shooting of the naval gunners in. a. practical and, we believe, profitable mainner. . For, unless ive are mistaken, . the prizes which ifc will be in a position to offer should' prove a very great incentive to keener competition -and consequently to improved gunnery. If tho local branch of the Navy Leaguo will come forward' with a definite scheme for encouraging efficiency in gunnery in the Navy, we 'beli-sve that it will gain the active support of a very large section of the public. The man in tho street, is well aware that straight shooting? is the most important •factor to a powerful Navy, and that without it the British fleets, however strong they j may b$ on paper, would be practically valueless in warfare. It is only necessary, there- j fore, to approach him in the righfc^way to ! arouse his interest in tie subject. If the ! Christcburch branch of, th© League -will make gunnery efficiency its watchword, will circulate facts and figures concerning the shooting capabilities of the Navy, as -well as a summary of the lessons taught "by the prese-nt war in the Far East, it will be assisting materially to promote a definite | object, and! we shall be surprised 1 if by this j means ifc does not attract to its own ranks a much-nesdted reinforcement of recruits.