VICTORIA LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25798, 20 March 1945, Page 2

VICTORIA LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING OF OTAGO BRANCH The fortieth annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Victoria League was held in the Public Trust board room yesterday. The Mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron) presided over a large attendance of members. Work of League The work of the Victoria League in London was mentioned in the annual report, which stated that in some instances where the league had given men letters of introduction, arrangements had been made for hospitality vouchers, enabling men to be the guests of their own relatives at the clubs in London. Private hospitality had also been arranged for men oil leave, and letters and parcels had been sent to prisoners-of-war in Germany. In addition to the two clubs, Nutford House and Hopkinson House, which had been in existence for some time, two officers' clubs were opened in May, one in York and one in London. The latter, unfortunately, was wrecked by blast from a flying bomb eight week's after it was opened, but luckily there was no loss of life and no one was seriously hurt. New premises were found within a few weeks, and another club opened in October. This was an achievement of which the league could be proud, as a great deal of work and severe financial loss were involved. The report recorded the result of a sale in the Dug-out, which realised £2OO for the All Purposes Patriotic Appeal. A donation of £lO was sent to London Headquarters Fund. Books and magazines were sent to country districts and to the lighthouses, and parcels of toys for the children at the latter places. Weekly papers were supplied regularly by the members of the league to the Services Club and were sent also to the London clubs. The league’s funds were augmented by a bring-and-buy sale which realised £7O 12s Id. The Young Contingent had a successful year's work, and as a result of a bring-and-buy sale £B4 2s was raised, of which £65 was sent to the Victoria League clubs in London. The adoption of the annual report and balance sheet was moved by the Mayor, who commended the league on the work it was doing, particularly on behalf *of the patriotic funds. The league, he added, was one of the many very useful organisations in the city.

Mrs A. G. Melville seconded the motion, which was carried. Election of Officers

The following officers were elected:— President, Mrs A. G. Melville: vice-presidents—-Lady Sargood, Mrs E. Bowler, Miss Downic Stewart, Mrs G. Fitzgerald, and Mrs J. P. McGowan; committee—Mesdames K. S. Ramsay, F. Bell, J. A. Jenkins, G. Gallawav, C. G. May. F. E. Clapperton A. N. Haggitt, Misses K. Begg, I. Burton, C. M. Cutten, and K. Clapperton; council —Mr Justice Kennedy, Messrs W. Downie Stewart, W. R. Brugh, W. J. Morrell, H. P. Kidson, G. R. Ritchie, Harman Reeves, James Begg', Professor H. Ramsay, and Professor T. D. Adams; honorary auditor, Mr S. P. Mirams; honorary secretary, personal correspondence, Miss P. Jones; honorary secretary, Young Contingent, Miss W. Johnstone; treasurer, Miss M. Macandrew.