ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12431, 27 April 1926, Page 5

ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION

LUNCHEON TALK.

One of the most important functions yet held by the English Speaking union in Wellington was the luncheon reception arranged yesterday to give members the opportunity of meeting Sir Henry and Lady Braddon, of New South Wales, and Aliss Alarie Narelle. the Australian singer, which was held at the “Chequers” tea room. Air H. F. Johnstone presided, and in welcoming the guests said that though Sir Henry Braddon had been born in India, tliis was not his first visit to New Zealand, while Lady Braddon, being a New Zealander, needed no introduction. Aliss Alarie Narelle would always be remembered by Anzacs for the splendid work she aid in New York during the war, where she was head of the’ Anzao Club. The E.S.U. in Sydney had paid Miss Narelle the compliment of making her an honorary life member. SIR HENRY BRADDON

Sir Henry Braddon, who was warmiy applauded as lie rose to sjieak, thanked the society for tlieir kindness in inviting himself and his wife (who was a native of Invercargill), also his brother-in-law, Sir Eustace Russell, and also Aliss Narelle, to this luncheon. He still had the pleasure of welcoming New Zealand football and tennis learns when they visited Sydney’. His heart was very much with the work of the E.S.U., and he considered they could do very good work if they went about it the light way. The fundamental idea of the union was sympathy and understanding, not with any one particular country, hut with the whole world. Tlie two great branches were of course Britain and America, and these two peoples were really very little different. As an instance of their different attitude ho quoted an Englishman and American entering a house for dinner, the former looked as if he owned the place, and the latter as if he did not care a d who owned it. He said the world would he a happier place if we did not pass judgment on countries or people until we knew all the facts. Up till 1770 America and England‘~4md followed the same ways in literature, language, and laws, etc. Then came tho /Declaration of Independence, which wo must remember held the same ideals as our Magna Charta. Perhaps it was a good thing for two great countries, each with similar ideals, to glow up independently, and to be drawn together again by such movements as the Rotary Club, the English Speaking Union, and many other Hubs of the same nature. One of the first things that we of the E.S.U. must learn is to remove prejudices. Wo must remember that when America made her plunge in April, i!)17, she gave and worked in a magnificent and marvellous manner, sparing nothing, spending royally. In twenty months she had 2,000,000 men in France, 4,000,000 in training, and 20,009,000 in reserve. America with her great nlien population, conscripted her men. Educationally, the E.S.U. is already doing good woik. In England, Lord Rothermcre has endowed a Chair of History at Oxford, for the teaching of “Rational” history. An

American, Air Davidson, lias given money to enable six British graduates to go to an American University lor one year, to enable them to see and understand tho heart of America. In Sydney, an essay l<i set for tlie van ous schools on any subject that will help tlie pupils to know and understand other countries. In concluding Ilia very intereetiifj speech, Sir Henry Braddon said that lie could not do better than quote Earl Haig, who said, “Americans and British have buried with their dead in the cemeteries in Prance the memories of old mistakes.” At the conclusion of tho luncheon many members had the opportunity of meeting the guests of honour.