THE BRITISH COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 29, 3 January 1940, Page 3

THE BRITISH COUNCIL

BRANCH IN AUSTRALIA. The British Council was founded by Lt.-Colonel Charles Bridge, D. 5.0., in 193-1. Then it comprised a small office on Savoy Mill London; to-day itfills an office block in Hanover iSt., \\ . H.M. The King is its patron, Lord Tyrrell is president, the vice-presidents are Lord Derby and Lord I’ivcrtlale. The active chairman is Lord Lloyd ol Dolohrari. The British Council was formed to make the life and thought ot the British peoples more widely known abroad; and to promote a mutual interchange of knowledge and ideas wiih other peoples, to encourage the study and use of English ; to assist overseas schools in equipping themselves lor this purpose; to enable students Horn overseas to undertake courses oi education or industrial training in the United Kingdom. It- brings other peoples into closer touch with British ideals and practice in education, industry.' and government makes available to them the benefits of current British contributions to the sciences and technology, and affords them opportunities of appreciating contemporary British workin literature, the fine arts, drama, and music. It exists, foo, to co-operate with file self-governing Dominions in strengthening the common cultural traditions of the British Commonwealth.

The British Council furnishes libraries for British societies and clubs abroad. It maintains the professors of English in foreign universities — Coimbra (Portugal). Lisbon. Bucharest, a lid Athens. Its lecturers teach English in every European city. Three symphonies were commissioned from Arthur Bliss. AVilliam AYalton. and Sir Arnold Bax to he played at the New York AYorld Fair, where thev were a tremendous success. The. British Council sends dramatic companies, choirs, and orchestras, soloists. and famous personalities to play, sing, and lecture throughout Europe and the East.

'The press department serves news- | paper material to over 1500 publica- i lions in fifty languages. A section to cover Australia. New Zealand, and the i Dutch East Indies, is being formed j !

with headquarters in Alelbourne. It will he under the direction of Air Stanley Brogden, a former New Zealander. who is now in New Zealand en route to Alelbourne. Afr Brogden was in Palmerston North at the week-end.