HIGH COMMISSIONER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 131, 4 June 1924, Page 15

HIGH COMMISSIONER

SOME RECENT ENGAGEMENTS

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

(FROM OUIt OWN COr.nESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 20th March.

There was a very large attendance o£ guests at the annual dinner of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, presided over by. Lord Buckmaster. To Sir James Allen was entrusted the toast: "The Empire and Education." He said that the Dominions were grateful to tho Mother' country for the lead she had given them in the matter of education. In New Zealand they were developing, not only general ' education, but also scientific research. Science and progress were essential to success. If the Empire was to stand the competition of the future it could only dp so if the education in,the Empire was the best that could be given. • jjord Buckmaster remarked that the present Government had an unusual opportunity before it in that it could redepin the foolish and niggardly parsimony of tbe previous one. It could show-that'love of learning and the desire to promote .education in this country was not a mere phrased Education should not be based on narrow knowledge of great truths. ' ' ■" THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ST. | GEORGE. Among- those present at the annual banquet of the Royal Society of St. George were Sir .James Allen, Sir Joseph Cook, Admiral Sir E.- H, Fre- | mantle, and most of the Agents-General. | Mr- Edward Wilshnw' .(president of the : society) presided. Major Richard' Ricg proposed ."Our Dominions Overseas " remarking that-the Society of St. Georsre had nearly 100 branch.es, 9Q of which were in the Dominions.. The society stood for the love of England and the cherishing of great Imperial heritage, rnd he hoped that the decisions of the' Imperial and Economic Conference would soon be transformed into living realities. Sir James Allen, in reply, observed that from 19i4 to 1918 the Dominions tjave tangible proof of-their loyalty, but that loyalty was also abundantly proved in times'of peace. They felt it was a duty to carry the great traditions ' of England to the Dominions and to the native races with whom they come into contact, and England had' reason to be proud of her work for the native races in the Southern Pacific. . In New ,'Zealand their own Maoris had become part and parcel of themselves, and before he last came away they sent this message: —"If His, Majesty inquires for usj tell him we are well, and jf he wants us to do^ anything more for him we will do it." (Cheers.) The Dominions could not go on, however, and dp their duty fully, unless frequent Imperial Conferences were held from time to time. They were growing rapidly, and unless there was some appeal to tradition ithero was a tendency to get aloof. This, however, could be checked by such conferences. THE OLD COLONY CLUB. Much interest attaches to the establishment of the Old Colony. Club jn its new premises in Aldwych, and a lun. cheon was given a few days ago to celebrate the opening of the new home, of what is regarded as a great Imperial trade centre. Many representative busi. ness men were present at the luncheon, j which was presided over by Viscount Burnham. Sir James Allen, Sir Harry ISnttain, and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher were among the guests. ;' Mr. ■■ J. T. Horn (Wellington) is the managing director, and since tho club started its' operations in Great Britain1 less than- two year's ago, nearly 1100 members have been enrolled. Jlr. Horn expressed the opinion that the trading future of the world was centred in London. If the club in London controlledEurope and the British Empire, it would pretty well control the world, except the United States of America. They proposed to establish a; club in Glasgow, afterwards in every big city in Great Britain, because they wanted the members to feel that wherever they went .they could walk into their own club. That was what they were aiming at, but they wished to go further, and in diie time to control clubs in other countries, as far away as New Zealand and Australia; Their great' object was to build up the trade of the British Em,pire. (Hear, hear.) -Lord Burnliam, in' responding, said that what struck him more than anything else was that the business part oi the club would be always conducted with the .inestimable advantage oi'thb personal touch. Half tho troubles of : the world could be got over by personal contact, which, after all, was only tact with a prefix. (Cheers.) He looked forward confidently to this club estabjishing itself as ono of the great cpmrnercial centres of London—a centre from which would radiate the material interests of the pocket, and the equally, important interests of the mind and heart of commercial development.