VICTORIA LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19521, 31 March 1927, Page 12

VICTORIA LEAGUE

OTAGO BRANCH'S ANNUAL MEETING YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED The year’s work of the Victoria League was fully reviewed at the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the league yesterday afternoon in the Town Hall. The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P., C.M.G.) presided. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated:— “ We deeply regret the death of Mrs D. E. Theomin, a member of the executive and a vice-president, who has been identified with the league’s work for many years. The year has passed quietly, filled with league activities, with no outstanding events. The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, attracting as it did many visitors, gave the league opportunity for the hospitality which is, of course, one' of its main activities. Quite a number of overseas visitors have also brought letter of introduction, and have been entertained and assisted, some to get work, and in any other way possible. Advice has been received regularly of the arrival of English public school boys on the land in Otago and Southland, and each has been written a letter of welcome and sent some general reading matter. The names and addresses of thirty-nine of them are registered to date. Several have become members of the league and of the Book Club, and without exception they have written thanks and requested further information regarding the league. At intervals reports are sent to Loudon, with any information regarding those boys that may be of interest to their parents and friends.

“ Early in the year a report was received from the Home league that the financial position of the London headquarters had long been a cause of anxiety to the central executive, and that until some remedy was found they would, if not forced to curtail existing activities, at least have to refuse all suggestions for their extension. There are at present nineteen Victoria League branches outsjde Great Britain. Of these, five sent in no figures for membership last year. The other fourteen have 7,600 senior members, therefore the total number of members overseas is probably about 10,000.. To help the financial trouble it was suggested that overseas branches make an annual grant to headquarters of not less than £2 10s for every 100 adult members, which would bring in an annual income of £250. Your executive consulted the five other branches in New Zealand, and found, although they were not adhering exactly to the principle suggested, they were all ranking as generous donations as possible, and inirnded to make them annually. The Otago branch, therefore, decided to send the sum of £l2 10s, which reprasents_ 500 members at £2 10s per 100, advising that this would be done every year provided the funds would permit. A letter of thanks from headquarters has been received for the quick and generous support from New Zealand. , “ Members.—The membership remains about the same—financial members 500 and twentv-six life members.

“Essay.—The subject chosen was ‘The Treaty of Waitangi and the last Maori Wars.'’ The executive was very grateful to Mr T., R. Fleming for act- ; ing as judge, and he made the following j report on essays from the secondary, schools: ‘ln this section all the essays displayed a close study of the subject set, and the composition varied from good to very good, the first three being exceptionally good.’ The first three were all by Waitaki High School boys. The essays. from the primary schools were not so good. I “Empire Day, May 24.—A very successful ‘At Homo ’ was given to members, at which Sir Charles Stathain spoke on ‘ Queen Victoria—ln' Her Recently Published Letters,’ giving an interesting and entertaining address. In tho morning a wreath, as usual, was placed on the statue of Queen Victoria in Queen’s Gardens. “ Three suggestions from London have received support from this branch; one from the newspaper and magazine secretary, who wrote asking for names and addresses in Fiji with whom English children might correspond and also might send their used copies of the ‘Children’s Newspaper,’ and the secretary has been : able to get in touch with several schools who were glad to take advantage of these offers. The second suggestion was from tho education secretary, who asked lor photographs which might be made into slides to illustrate a picture talk called ‘ The Children of Empire,’ the idea being to make a picture talk suitable for younger children, introducing pictures of children in other parts of the Empire. Quite a number of suitable pictures were sent forward. Thirdly, Miss Dravton asked that to make the boys’ and girls’ pages of the Victoria League ‘ Monthly Notes ’ more interesting we should take one month’s issue and fill it with contributions from New Zealand children. This we have undertaken to dOj and are planning the essay competition this year to collect the ideas and interests of the juniors. “ The Book Club has had a very active year. On May 31 last quite the largest and best collection of books and magazines was made from members and friends, and the librarian has had a heavy time cataloguing and sending out parcels. In round figures 700 bookstand innumerable magazines and papers have been supplied four times during the year to twenty-three centres, besides which papers have been sent to Pitcairn Island and parcels of children’s books to schools in Fiji. Also, in August, parcels of general reading matter were sent to eight lighthouses', being carried by the courtesy of tho captain of the Tutanekai. “ Tea on Christmas Day.—The league again gave a tea at the Young Women ! s Christian Association on Christmas Day to lonely girls and immigrant girls who had recently arrived in New Zealand, and it proved a very happy function. “ Finance.—This is the first year since 1920 that the Cinderella dances have failed to bring in a revenue—in fact, we have to record a loss on the only one given. A bridge drive brought in a very acceptable sum, but >t will be this year to budget the expenditure with the probable income from subscriptions. “This vear delegates will be invited to attend the biennial conference at New Plymouth.” LADY SIM'S ADDRESS.

Lady Sim (president) moved the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, and, in doing so, briefly welcomed Mrs Frank Clapperton, who had been appointed a vice-president, taking the place of the late Mrs Theomin. The speaker referred to the advisability of increasing the annual subscriptions, and mentioned that that was a matter that was brought up at every conference of the league. The desire of the league, however, was to increase the membership on ideal grounds, and a small subscription would allow this, whereas a large amount would debar one from joining. She also referred to the loyal spirit shown as the result of the Duke and Duchess of York’s visit to Now Zealand. The league’s aims were idealistic as well as practical, and the members should never forget that it was founded out of love and gratitude to Victoria the Good. They looked hopefully to the future, and she hoped that the funds would increase year by year. In conclusion, she said the league considered it would he iu the nature of an anti-climax if the usual ’ Empire Day celebrations were held after the outpouring of loyalty during the recent visit of loyally, and the league would content itself by placing a wreath at the foot of the statue of Queen Victoria, as mother of the Empire. (Applause.)

Before seconding the motion, the Chairman said he appreciated being asked to preside. Ho expressed regret that the finances were not so good as they would have desired; but tiiat was due to a number of causes which were unavoidable. He urged everyone to give as much support as possible to the mother league in London. The Otago branch had been very active during the year, and had done its share in the work of the Empire. The boys who came out from Home and landed here without friends had been well looked after. He suggested that the league should include children as members. A membership of 500 was very creditable, but there was no reason why children should not increase it. He was glai to see that very useful work was being carried mo in distributing books to the people of the backblocks, and to those living at the various lighthouses. The Christmas Qay tea was a very pleasing function, bringing joy to many immigrant girls and New Zealand girls, and he was sorry that the tea could not be <-dd every quarter. The .visit of the Dtke and Duchess of York to New Zealand, he was sure, would do a great deal to strengthen the bonds of Empire. The annual report and balance -sliceo were adopted. OFFICE-BE IRERS. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year Lady Sim; vice-presidents—Mesdames F. Clappertou, W. Laidlaw, and E. C. Reynolds; treasurer and secretary,Miss Jackson; Executive Council—Mesdames Eden Bowler, Thos. Fergus, B. 0. Haggitt, A. G. Melville, J M. Ritchie, and P. R. Sargood, Misses A. C. Anderson, Begg, Burton, Cooke, and Downie Stewart, Sfc William Sim, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, the Hon. -lir John Sinclair, tho Hon. G. M. Thomson, Messrs P. R Sargood, J. C. Marshall, and H. L. Tapley, M.P.;. Iron auditor, Mr W. T. Monkman; hon. librarian, Miss F. Allan A vote of- thanks to the chair and the singing of one verse of the National Anthem concluded the meeting.