LINKS OF EMPIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 3

LINKS OF EMPIRE

VICTORIA LEAGUE'S OBJECT STUDENTS FROM DOMINIONS "I am convinced that personal contacts and personal friendships such as the Victoria League exists to promote aro among the most important links of Empire," said Miss Gertrude Drayton, secretary to the Victoria League in London, who arrived at Auckland yesterday morning on a five weeks' visit to New Zealand. Miss Drayton has been secretary to the V ietoria Leaguo in London for 20 years and it was in recognition of her work in this direction that she was awarded tho honour of C.B.E. Miss Drayton said the Victoria League in London was always delighted to meet any visitors from New Zealand. They were particularly interested in visiting students and teachers, whom she considered tho two types of people to be most in need of friendships and the facilities for making friendly contacts in a new country, and also the most valuable, in tho personal friendships and contacts which they made, to tho linking up of the Empire. They, more than holiday visitors, lived, learned and taught among the people of the country. Students and teachers from tho branches of tho Empire who called at tho Victoria League headquarters were all treated as honorary members of tho league during their stay in London. The Victoria Leaguo in London, Miss Drayton explained, although it possessed official headquarters, adequately equipped with offices and clubrooms, was not a lesidential club. It did, however, possess a visitors' room and' tea room, and every attempt was made to make visitors feci at home. While in Australia she visited 12 branches of the league and she hoped later to meet members of tho leaguo in Tasmania. Coming out to Australia as an official guest to tho recent South Australian centenary celebrations, Miss Drayton expects to return to Australia in January to attend the conference at Hobart of all branches of the Victoria League in Australia. She said she had for many years wished to visit New Zealand, partly because she had heard so much about it and partly because the Victoria League in New* Zealand was so strong. She believed that in the eight branches of the league in the Dominion there was a total membership of 4000, which she considered an excellent achievement. During her five weeks' visit to the Dominion Miss Drayton plans to see as much as possible of both the North and South Islands, and said she hoped her visit, would result in many further contacts being made between members in Australia, New Zealand and England. Before she left London, Miss Drayton saw Lord Bledisloe. who asked her to convey his best wishes to tho Victoria League in New Zealand and who gave her a list of the places she ought to visit. Lord Bledisloe, she said, was one of the strongest admirers of New Zealand whom she had met. Miss Dravton was greeted on her arrival bv Miss Mowbray, president of the Victoria League in Auckland. Mrs. •T. B. Macfarlane. vice-president, Mjss M. Nation, secretary, and Mrs. Eliot Davis, whose guest she will be while in Auckland. MAYORAL RECEPTION WELCOME TO MISS DRAYTON Shortly after her arrival by the Awatea yesterday morning, Miss Gertrude Drayton was tendered an informal reception by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, in the Mayoral rooms, when members of the league executive and council were present to welcome the visitor.

In greeting Miss Drayton, Air. Davis spoke of the valuable work which women's organisations were doing in the world to-day, and paid tribute to the worth of those committee members who toiled so hard for so little praise. The world would be in a sad state, he remarked, were it not for the place which women were taking in it. "We are sound to the core in the upholding of the British Constitution," said Air. Davis, in referring to the fine work for which the Victoria League in tho Dominion, under the leadership of Miss Mowbray, had been responsible. "I have been looking forward for years to seeing this lovely country," said Miss Drayton. It was a wonderful thing, she continued, to come so many miles across the world and to land in a country that felt like home. In London, the Victoria League had the pleasure of knowing many New Zealanders, and at the Home headquarters they were always glad to assist and welcome any members from this country. She considered that the personal friendliness that characterised the leaguo was, second only to loyalty to tho Throne, tho most important link of Empire. On behalf of the Overseas League, Miss A. Qtiaylo also welcomed Miss Drayton, and wished her a happy stay in New Zealand. At tho invitation of the Mayor, Miss Mowbray, president of the Victoria League, spoke briefly in appreciation of the help that was given to her and tho leaguo by so many workers, on whose behalf she had the pleasure of welcoming Miss Drayton. Miss Drayton, who wore an ensemble of nut brown flat crcpo, with hat to tone and furs, was presented by the Alayor with a spray of pastel-shaded orchids and carnations. Morning tea was served, and those present were able to meet and talk with Miss Drayton on the doings of the league at home and abroad. Among those present were Miss J. A. Mowbray, Mrs. A. A. Edgar, Airs. .1. B. Macfarlane, Mrs. C. Keeble, Mrs. L. S. Rickerby, Mrs. Eliot Davis, Mrs. Preston Chambers, Mrs. S. A. Stride, Mrs. Cnrr-Smith, Airs. Harry Goldie, Miss Heath Slator, Aliss C. Alurray, Miss E. AI. Statham, Dr. S. A. Stride, Air. W. Crowther and Mr. Townley Little.