OVERSEAS CLUB

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 83, 2 January 1930, Page 6

OVERSEAS CLUB

BETTER EMPIRE UNDERSTANDING TRAVELLING SECRETARY IN WELLINGTON ( . . Visiting Wellington at the present time is Mr. Eric Rice, the travelling secretary of the Overseas Club, who is on a mission to Australia and New Zealand to engage the attention of the public in the. activities of this club, which at present has a membership of 40,000, 200 of whom reside in the Wellington district.

Many people here will remember the visit to Wellington some years ago of Mr. Evelyn Wrench, now the editor of "The Spectator,” who was very interested in the Overseas Club, for the opportunities it afforded of bringing the various people of the overseas Dominions together for their social and commercial advantage. He held the view that the people of one Dominion should not'lie allowed to grow up strangers to their, fellows in other British possessions, and it was his earnest desire that some means should be provided ■whereby the various units of the Empire, could j be brought together in order that they should understand one another’s ideals. The Overseas Club, which has splendid quarters in London and Edinburgh has done much to cultivate that spirit. ’ “People from overseas can always, be sure of a warm welcome and a kindly handshake at the headquarters'of the club, and should they be in need of any information,ns to travel at" Home or on the Continent, or knowledge as to how to go about certain undertakings, the officials of the club are only too ready to assist. Increasing the Membership. Mr. Rice said he was travelling around with the object of interesting people in the club, and to increase its membership, for the more members there were the more they could extend their activities in a manner to be of very real value to those members. Only 10/- a year , was charged members, no matter where they lived, afid in return for that they received the privileges of the club whilst visiting England and Scotland, and could, if they wished, stay on the club premises for a very moderate charge. The club was handily situated in Park Avenue, and was most comfortably furnished . and sensibly appointed. There visitors

from New Zealand could come into contact with those from India, South Africa, Canada, the Straits Settlements, Australia, and elsewhere, and it was on record that the friendships formed through sucli meetings had been of a very enduring character. Then the club was in a position to furnish information to inquirers who wished to settle in one or other of the overseas Dominions, and even give them letters of introduction to people, so that they would not be without someone to look up and from whom to obtain local advice. There was a good deal done in that direction. In his experience most of the inquiries were about New Zealand and British Columbia, perhaps more about the latter country than New Zealand, as it is just England on a grander scale, as was also New Zealand in many respects. Mr. Rice will be at the Midland Hotel for the next ten days, and would be glad to meet anyone interested in the Overseas Club, and its many activities. »