AN OVERSEA CLUB.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16585, 26 July 1919, Page 12

AN OVERSEA CLUB.

* DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S ' PROPOSAL. (FltOM OTTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, June 11. Thrf Duke, of Connauglit, who is Colonel-in-C'hicf of tlio New Zealand Rifle Brigade and president of tlio N.Z. Officers' Club in Hill street, presided at a dinner at tho club last night to celebrate tlie approaching closing of the institution. Mrs Cuninghame, of Craigends, snt on tlie Duko's right, and Brigadier-General C. W. Mclvill on his left. Brigadier-iJcncral Young, Colonel G. T. Hall, and sixty or seventy officers of the N.Z.E.l i \ were present. Rcspondm** to the toiist of the Royal Family, his Rovnl Highness suggested tho possibility of establishing in London a permanent residential club tor colonial officers. "It is a matter I have at heart, said his Roya! Highness, "although it is st U an uncertainty. I feci myself that having had this club for New Zealand officers and similar clubs for officers from tho oversaa Dominions, it would be a great pity if riotliiug should spring out of theiu. I hate the idea that you aro going away and that -these clubs should disappear. I think an effort should be made to bring about tlie establishment of a permanent club in London where officers or their eiriliau friends, ladies and gentlemen, could stay whenever they com© to England. (Clieers.) I hope many of you will como back to England. "Tho more tho different parts of the Empire know, each other, the-better it will l>e -for the Empire. I hope very much that in the future some really suitable building may be found for this project, where visitors from the different Dominions mny be able to put up.- This building should l>e erected as a memorial to the splendid services rendered by our oversea Dominions during tho war." (Cherrs.) Sir Ernest Hatch, secretary of tho Beyond Seas Association, also" spoke, and incidentally referred to the proposed club as the "Home Clu'b." The Now Zealand Officers' Oiub was formerly the London residence of Mrs Cuninghame. «