LUNCHEON CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 6, 9 January 1928, Page 10

LUNCHEON CLUB

BREAK FROM AUSTRALIA DOMINION" ASSOCIATION (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 30th November. Charming as Australians are, it is not always possible for New Zealandera in London to co-operate with .them satisfactorily. In any combined organisation the Commonwealth is apt to swamp the Dominion by weight of numbers. Such is the position regarding the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club. Apart from this, there is a peculiar blind spot in many otherwiso estimable representatives of the Commonwealth, as the following will show:— Sir James Parr was asked to tuko the chair at the December luncheon when Sir Rowland Blades, the late Lord Mayor, is to be the chief guest. Now, although Sir Rowland has had pleasant associations with New Zealanders, has entertained the New Zealand cricketers, and has friends and relatives in the Dominion, this is the printed circular that has been sent to the members of the Australian and Now Zealand Luncheon Club:— _ "It is almost unnenecessary to mention that Sir Rowland Blades was until quite recently Lord Mayor of London During his year of office he became exceedingly popular. He exhibited -great interest in the question of the development of Australia and showed alrnost.unbouncled hospitality during his term at the Mansion Wsef to AuftS lian visitors, and evinced the greatest interest in organisations whose efforts were in any way connected with the Commonwealth of Australia. It i s hoped therefore, that members will strongly support this luncheon and bring then- friends to it." Now, that is from a perfectly intelligent honorary secretary, lately elected. No offence is intended to New Zealand, ihu fact is that in the minds of some Australians the Dominion of New Zealand does not exist. They have heard the name all their lives, but the Dominion as something definite and tangible has never appealed to their consciousness.. There is simply a blind spot in their mental make-up. It should be added, of course, that New Zealandcw are not without their mental complex where the Commonwealth is concerned, but it does not show itself in an unconsciousness of the existence of Australia. ASSOCIATIONS DESIRED. This idea was probably in the minds of New Zealanders who met at the ■High Commissioner's Office to consider matters relating to the New Zealand annual dinner. Sir James Parr was in the chair. The hon. secretary (Mr. L E. L. Donne) announced that there was a balance m hand of £2G 4s 3d The date for the next dinner was fixed for a day between 25th May and sth June, and the Prince of Wales is to be invited. Palling the Prince, it is hoped to have another member of th« Royal iamily as chief guest. A letter was read which stated- "We the undersigned, hereby request you to call a special general meeting of the New Zealand Annual Dinner Committee at an early date to consider the proposal to constitute a New Zealand Association." The signatories were Mr Cecil J..Wray, Mr. T. H. Ching, Mr. J Macmillan, Mr. Sydney Jacobs 'Mr W H. Young, Mr. Robert Mill, Mr. j. C* Hanna, Mr. W. L. James, Mr. C. J Cowan, and Dr. J. M'Naughton Christie There was a feeling among a good many, said the High Commissioner, that arrangements for the dinner might be better if there were some sort of regularised association, the members of which would pay a small subscription. There were times when he found it desirable to entertain some distinguished visitor going to New Zealand, or some ono from the Dominion visiting this country. There was the case of Sir Robert Home a few days ago. He felt it would be much better if on such occasions it were possible to call upon au association of representative New Zealanders in London to arrange a luncheon in honour of such distinguished men. If there were fifty New Zealanders present, say, at such a luncheon it would be much nicer than a private, luncheon with a few invited guests at his (the High Commissioner's) club. It was true that they had the Australian and New Zealand Luncheon Club in London, but in that organisation they were overweighted by Australians. As an example of this overweighting, Sir James Parr read the circular quoted at the beginning of this report. He, moved: "The time has arrived when we should form an association of New Zealand residents in London for hospitable purposes." This was agreed to unanimously, and a meeting waa arranged for a fortnight later to consider the rules. Draft rules have already been drawn up. It is suggested that the name of the association shall be the London-New Zealand Association. The object shall be to promote the interests of the Dominion of New Zealand, both socially and commercially, and in every other possible way. The annual subscription shall be £1 Is. J