THE OVERSEAS LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20930, 21 January 1930, Page 11

THE OVERSEAS LEAGUE.

3 LOCAL BRANCH FORMED. \ RECEPTION Tills EVENING. An Empire on which the sun never sets cannot rail, by its very nature, to re- • fiuirc . the operations of some Imperial j society to draw its peoples together and provide mutual meeting grounds and interests. This need found expression in i. Great Britain 20, years ago, when the ' Overseas League Was formed, and in a vsiy short time branches of this organisation r, w - e s e , established in most parts of the British Empire, with the result that to-day the league *has a membership of over 40,000 in the 800 branches at present in existence. Dunedin for many years has had its Overseas Club, but this body has been quite distinct from the Empire organisation which has operated under the patronage of His Majesty the King. Now however the executive of the local club has decided to throw in its lot with the league and merge its identity in that of hundreds of others all over the Empire. The decision was arrived at yesterday as a result of a conference between the JJunedm Club’s executive and Mr Eric Rice assistant-secretary of the Overseas League in London, who is just completing a tour of the Empire in the interests of the league. Australia and New Zealand are the last members of the British commonwealth of nations to Be visited, and Mr Rice expects, at the close t . our t -, to be able to report a unanimity in these countries similar .to that which he has found in those ha has already canvassed. * J H-T he , Dune din Overseas Club, although “ 4if b ? en worl s ln 8 along the same lines as the league, has been a distinct organisation, and many local members, on an iving in Great Britain, have been, surprised to find that membership in the g local dub did not entitle them to the | privileges of membership in the Empire i ' A s fr° m yesterday, however, memf membei th f *£ lub , a ' J tomatically become [ b ™ * o£ le ague on substantially T t . e , rms fbat governed membership f S “J? l,er organisation, and to cement turthei the new relationship arrived at jesterday Mr Rice will hold an informal reception at the Grand Hotel at 5 pm '• lbls ? ve ” in .ff t 0 which all those interested are invited. if w h< l . Overseas League, it, may be f S 4he lar » efit “Pi 1 most influential rrt! C R r v'i, non-political organisation - in the British Empire, its objects being : in the bond of comrade^ t Sl’P, British subjects all over the world. 11 14 IS hoped to accomplish by the " e "T ( ?ernCn V f Imperial education, the ;■ Production and publication of literature a lal ' f nt - ei T Stl tb - e collection and _ distribution of information in regard to d the natural resources and openings for - trade throughout the Empire and the II encouragement of individual service to i f J m Pu ire ’ n The > ea e u e publishes i monthly the Overseas Magazine, and one 1 1 the Privileges of membership, which >t costs 10s per annum, is the receipt of this u publication, the monthly circulation of l- ™ bas reached 38.000. Clubs in ~ P- ts °1 ft® Bmpire, with special resia dentia! establishments in London and Edinburgh, also offer members privileges i. wlllc |* ca “"ot be measured , s until they have been taken advantage