VICTORIA LEAGUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 4

VICTORIA LEAGUE

REPORT OF YEAR'S WORK FINANCIAL STRAIN EASED [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] LONDON. July 27 At the annual meeting of the Victoria League Lady Forster was reelected chairman, Lady Beatrice Ormsby-Goro and Sir Frederic; Kenyon vice-cliaimon, and Mrs. Maurice Macmillan, honorary treasurer. Three vacancies on tho central executive were filled by the election of Viscountess Blodisloe, Mrs. Frank Fletcher and Mr. George Little. It was reported that tho league's membership had begun to increase again after the strain of the universal financial depression, and its opportunities of service were ever expanding. The number of visitors welcomed in the summer months of 1934, it was stated, show'ed that normal travelling conditions had begun to return. Just over 1000 bearers of personal introductions were on the London "invitation list" between April and July, in addition to tho students introduced by their colleges, numbering about 200. These figures took no account of students in universities outside London, soveral hundreds of whom were in touch with the local branches and through them with the London office. Invitations sent out through the Victoria League House during the year numbered 13,769, of which 1442 were sent to Home members. The personal invitations offered to visitors during the summer attained an average number of seven for each visitor. The financial position of league had improved. The Rhodes Trustees restored £SO of the £250 cut in the league's annual grant imposed in January, 1933. Annual subscriptions had increased by £l5O, and the branches in Britain and Victoria Leagues overseas had all responded with great sympathy and generosity to the appeal for better support of the London headquarters. A 'special fund" composed of donations of £25, started by an anonymous benefactor with the object of wiping off all liabilities and giving a credit balnnce to the general funds, raised £575. From this fund all the mortgage debt and the deficit on the accounts for the year 1933-34 were paid off, and a balance of nearly £220 was transferred to central funds.