Tributes to Splendid Work of Local Branch and Union Jack'
Club: Appreciation by Consul-General The annual general meeting of the Shanghai branch of the Navy League took place on May 27 at the Shanghai Club, Mr. J. F. Brenan, the president, taking the chair. Members of the committee present were Messrs. E. F, Bate man, P, A, Cox, C. C. Knight, R. Mein Austin and E, 8, Wilkinson (hon, secretary and treasurer).
After calling.on the secretary to read the notice calling the meeting, the president spoke as follows I will begin by voicing what 1 feel sure must be the sentiments of all of you when I express our profound sorrow at the death of the Into Mr. E. T, Byre, My. Byrne was for many years interes ed in the Navy League, first as vice-president and later, until the is death, as a member of mmmittee. His keeness on yachting and sailing inclined him naturally to view with sympathy the work wring men, and his and generosity endeared him to a very large number of our community. His death loss to Shanghai and we would like to convey our sincere condolences to his widow in her Breat bereavement.
The Shanghai branch of the Navy League naturally supports the Major aims and objects of the parent body at Home, which include the provision of an adequate navy for the defence of our Empire, And who can appreciate better the work: done by H. M. ships than we in China, who have often had to appeal to their protection in time of trouble?
The Shanghai branch, however, has contented itself with sending contributions to the parent and has not attempted to interfere in the political work of that body. Its main occupation has been the 1024, originally for sailors only, but since the arr Shanghai Defence Force it has catered for oldiers as well, I think there is little doubt that it has provided a much needed place of decent entertainment and recreation for the men of our fighting farces, that it is appreciated by them.
Amongst its other activities it provides Christmas entertainment for the sailors in port and does its est to make them feel that, though far from home, they are still among. friends at that festive season, A recent event of local interest party to British children de clare and oan.M.S, Hermes with the assistance of the British Women's and the Navy League.
British children were given portunity of seeing all the facing ing mechanism of this modern aircraft carrier, and I understand that several of the bewildered parents were subsequently given detailed instructions by their offspring how to fly an aeroplane.
The Union Jack Club is large financed by grants from the Shanghai Race Club, to whom our grateful thanks are due. However, the more money we have the more good work we can do, and we still welcome contributions from all who have the interests of our soldiers and sailors at heart, There are many institutions and organizations in Shanghai depending on public support, but this is one that should surely appeal particularly to the British community.
T will conclude my remarks vy expressing our thanks to our ener getic. honorary secretary, Mr. Wilkinson, for the hard work and trouble which he has taken on atr behalf, and I will now call upon him to make his report and explain the accounts which have been laid before you.
Mr, Wilkinson, in addressing the meeting, stated that it was rather difficult as the president said to explain the accounts, as they were all before the meeting in print, The accounts of the Navy League itself were small, but that of its child, the Union Jack Club, was growing up and this year showed a total of nearly a quarter of @ million dollars, which would be bigger if the real value of the property were shown.
As usual, a very clear report had been made by Mr. F. Hornbrook, the resident manager of the club. and My, Wilkinson had just added 8 few preliminary remarks. There was one item in the report to which he wished to draw atten-the decrease of net profit on club working is due to the higher cost of food and drinks, as no increase was, made in the club's prices during the year. Having regard to the outturn of the working account, it has now been found necessary to raise slightly nearly all prices."
He now wished to amend this statement, and point out that th would be in the price of drink only; the committee did wish to put the increase on the bar, and keep the price of food the same. would be seen that the takings in the dining room were much greater than those of the bar.
Practically everything was sold at cost price. He had been given several facts to present to the meeting, amongst them being that the cost of a full dinner was 85 cents, and there were several sample menus that could be seen after the Tt anybody could get inners like these cheaper anywhere in Shanghai, he would like to know where.
Comparative figures for this your, from January 1 to May 26, showed that the club was improving on Inst year. The dining room had already taken $30,706, while the tote! takings were $73,000 against $125,-
Another tin, bathe, ct tan cents, 10, as against $i67 for the whole 12 months of last year. A sum of $2,300 has already been taken for Bods thi yar, an againat $8.00 for last. year.
"All this. showed that the club was being used greatly, and the men came there because they liked it, as the demand for rest and rev creation was on the increase, It was most important for people to realize that the committee did not to the partakings as the pulse" of the club. 'The dining' room, beds, baths and other amenities were the important items, and the men were using these more and more.
He had nothing further to add, except that at a recent committee meeting they had decided that they should go ahead with the building of an addition to the club over the servants quarters, This would give room for a new barber's shop, linen room (which Mrs. Hornbrook had never had) and a dormitory holding 16 extra beds.
Mr, A. Akehurst replied to the president's invitation to the meet-aking if anyone had qu Akehurst gave an appreciation, Mr. E, S. Wilkinson's hard work ax hon, secretary and treasurer, and this was greeted with applause.
The report and accounts were then put to the meeting by the president, and passed unanimously. Upon the proposal of Mr. E. F. Bateman, seconded by Mr. C. A. Member, Mr. Brenan was re-elected president, and on the proposal of Mr, Akehurst, seconded by Mr. G.
Wilson, the committee ensuing year was elected. ficial of the club remain the same Fast year, with the exception that H. Forde takes the place of Byrne, and are President, Mr. J.
Brenan; sidents of St. Andrew St, David's jes: Committee: Messrs. E.
Bateman, P. A. Cox, H. V. Wilki son, C. C. Knight, R. Mein Austin, H. Forde and E. S. Wilkinson (hon. secretary and, treasurer).
Mr, Brenan then told the meeting that he had received a letter from the Senior Naval Officer in which the latter regretted he could not attend the meeting, but that he had sent the Resident Naval Officer, Lieut.- (Cmdr. Whitting, to deputize for Heat-Omer. Whiting spoke Captain -Arbuthnot has asked me to let you know how sorry he is that he is unable to attend this meeting, but he is sailing for England, Home and Beauty to-morrow morning. He thas sent me to deputize for him.
It requires no words from me to add to what has already been said regarding the valuable work of the Navy League. But I shall take this opportunity, if I may, of saying how very much everybody in the ships on
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.