IMPERIAL UNITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4579, 7 June 1917, Page 6

IMPERIAL UNITY.

OBJECTS OF VICTORIA LEAGUE

At the social afternoon of the Victoria League yesterday, Airs Oarey--1 Till, of Christchurch, who was present especially for the purpose, gave an interesting address on the Victoria League and its objects. The Victoria League, said' Airs Carey HI i 11, was first- founded at the death of Queen Victoria and was named after her. The object of the League had been, and was now. to promote a closer union between British subjects living in different parts of the world,, and its methods as heretofore had been to orgapi.se personal intercourse and spread information. All of ns have an interest and sympathy with the people who lived' in other parts of the Empire, as they equally, with ourselves made up the King’s' dominions. The Victoria League was the outcome of the desire to do something to increase good-fel-lowship between the various parts of tile Empire and to serve the cause of imperial unity—to put those feelings into a practical form—to promote some organisation through which the members of the Empire could come into personal touch with one another and through such personal inteVcourse. mutually understand each other’s, point of view, thus bringing about a. closer union between the Mother Country and the Dominions. This was put into practical form by promoting a form of mutual hospitality wherebv people from the Mother Country coming to this side of the world would find friends 1 waiting to welcome them and eager to show them that they were not strangers in a strange land. While for members going to England: the hospitality wa.s boundless. There was as it were a huge private dub open to receive them, where exceptional opportunities were given to see and do things impossible to obtain except as a member of the Victoria LoagucThe second object of the League was to spread information. This had been done by lectures, meetings, and. by promoting the study of Imperial subjects in schools; by offering prizes for essays and by encouraging the formation of libraries for the use of members and by sending books and papers to lonely people. This latter work had been taken up very well

by some centres in New Zealand and Australia; many thousands of books and papers being sent to isolated districts. which are not only a pleasure in themselves hut send a warm thrill of comradeship to the hearts of those who were remembered. The League also arranged correspondence between children of British and Colonial schools which has been the means of much- helpful interest and pleasure. It also acted as an Information Bureau in all manner of subjects, often being of much assistance to people who were most glad of a little personal and friendly advice when they were strangers. But with the beginning of the war tli e . activities of the League were turned into special channels. Never had there been better opportunity for pursuing the aims of the League, and the new work was being carried on with strenuous zeal an-di practical utility by members, both here and in other parts of the world. One had only to read the records in the League’s monthly notes, to,see the scope and world-wide nature of the work. In the last number of the magazine, one read of the splendid results attained bv the "members of the Poverty Bay' branch, and in each branch, one found the same, record; each o"e carrying on some special work, and doing it well. . Hospitality had always been the watchword of the League, because that was the best aid to a sense ot unitv. So in the Mother. Country the League now offered a welcome and a home-to all the men of the overseas forces by opening for their special u«e- The largest one was at the corner of Dover Street and Piccadilly and was opened by the Duke of Connaught. It contains ISO bens, bathrooms, dining, wriimg, recreation and kit rooms. Another was at b-, Charing Cross Road.. *nd a third vas in Hatton Gardens. Of tlm Edinburgh clubs, one was in Rutland iSquare. and another, opened recently at Ramsay Lodge. .Besides tnesc> Woman’s Club for -nurses and soldiers’ relations had been opened. m Hill Street, London, called The Oceana Club. AVe could not ieel too grateful to those who looked . alter our men while they were away said Mrs Carey-Hill, and the knowledge that this was done so spontaneous y and so well, drew still more closer the bonds of love that bound us to the dear Homeland.