BRITISH ISLES ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 76, 29 March 1924, Page 13

BRITISH ISLES ASSOCIATION.

CHANGED CONSTITUTION.

Another step forward in the progress fif the British Isles Association took place, on Wednesday evening, when the constitution was entirely reorganised lit a special general meeting of the association held at the premises, 54, Shortland street.

The Association, whose object has been to assist in a practical manner new si-ftiers in this country, was formerly confined to those from the British Isles. This •••ns a bar to New Zealanders, many of whom had offered their active help, and the Association, realising Uiat the welfare of the new settler was predominant, decided In open the Association to all.

Tlie new constitution, as passed at the special general meeting, divides the Association into two separate, watertight compartments, which will work in con junction wilh each other, i.e., the. cluh and the bureau. The former is confined as in the past to those, who have originally come from the British Isles. The club will be self supported by the members' subscriptions. The Association has been in communication with the New Settlers' League in Victoria, and Il>e latter were of the opinion that a club of this kind might be an advantage to their movement. The making of new friends and the individual welcome by their fellow countrymen who have preceded them helps to remove that feeling in loneliness which is experienced by everyone when nettling in a, strange land". The work of settling the new arrival will in future be carried out by the Association committee as apart from the Huh: the latter confining itself more to the individual welcome, that only fellowcountrymen can give.

During the last six months of last year it was found that the work of rinding suitable accommodation and employment for new arrivals and affording them advice was in itself sufficient to occupy the whole time of a permanent secretary. The hope was expressed that the Association will receive sufficient support from the public to enable it to render efficient aid to the new settler. It was also stated that one of the great clangers to a new settler with a small capital was that his capital might become exhausted while he was trying to linil suitable employment, and it also might become wasted by unsuitable investments due (o the ignorance of local values and conditions. Should either of tiiese events happen he was liable to become » dissatisfied settler, and thereby a drag instead of an asset- to the community. In both cases mentioned above the Association in the past has been of great practical benefit. The individual members of the Association have been doing this good work, but the work was becoming too excessive for such a small portion of the community.