COLONIAL INSTITUTE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10393, 10 May 1927, Page 3

COLONIAL INSTITUTE

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS At the Rotary Club lunch yesterday, when Kotin ian ’J'. Adams ff»s in the chair, Mr J- 11. Kirk addressed members on the subject of “The; Boyal Colonial Institute” giving an interesting account of what led to the formation of the Institute and tracing its growth and added importance since. He clearly demonstrated its value in the cause of Empire, and showed its helpfulness to those from the Dominions on visiting England, pointing out also that there was no place in the world where there were not Fellows. Besides the great pile of buildings in. London, it _ had important branches at Bristol, Brighton, Bournemouth, Liverpool, Cambridge and Sheffield, while in Sydney Fellows had their own premises and there was an active branch at Christchurch. Mr Kirk spoke with appreciation of the wonderful library of 170,000 valumes on Empire topics and. of the splendid magazine of the Institute called “United Efnpire.” The Institute provided) a'Club in London for overseas visitor's and facilitated their enquiries in every way. Meetings, dinners and luncheons were arranged, while these desirous of promoting trade interests were introduced and helped. The Imperial Studies Committee of the Institute was doing excellent work, and generally lie commended it as being in his opinion the best volutary organisation working for the weiding together of the Empire. The speaker concluded liy referring to the remarks of Air Baldwin at the last Imperial Conference on the importance of making the Empire the saviour of fhe nation and showed how this ideal was that for which the Institute stood. At the conclusion of the interesting address, which-was followed with close attention, the speaker was accorded 1 a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of Botarian W. Hamilton Irvine.