VICTORIA LEAGUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 8

VICTORIA LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING. . The annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Victoria League was held .in the Town Hall on the 2nd inst., and was attended by about 25 members, Mrs Sim presiding. The annual report _ submitted contained a resume of the activities of the branch for the past year. It conclude.d thus:— The correspondence scheme among children is growing steadily, an increa3ing number of finks being made each month _ between colonial and Home children. Sixty new members are recorded for the year, making a total for adults of 323. Three_ hundred and five juniors have joined, making a total for the children of 4o0."

Airs Sim moved the adoption of the report, and pointed out the more prominent and important objects of the league, and she referred to the special, value attaching to the league as a connecting fink between the ohildren of the dominion and those resident in the Home Country. Mr P. R. Sargood, in seconding the motion, thanked members of the league for appointing him a delegate to represent them, and said that now the war had terminated they would be able to push matters ahead It had always seemed to him that, while tho objects of the league were quite good, now the war was. ove,r they might attempt, something of a more practical nature; something thaft was closer to their material needs. The question of emigration had been long in his mind, and many saw very muoh hopu ahead of them in this matter. There were th-a best possibilities and opportunities for people here. It seeme<i to him that the Victoria League would be a good_ organisation to take an active part in this matter throughout the length and breadth of the world. He had propounded a scheme for carrying out such a work. The Victoria League could not undertake male emigration, but he thought it might devote itself to the emigration of females! —migration was the word he preferred- The main question was how they were going to "noise so many. The housing here was not suffioient for the people at present. New Zealand wanted domestic ser-

vants and female operatives in 10 industries and the question arose, could they not help those working at the other endJT. The scheme he had propounded was based upon tho leaguo being the .central body in New Zealand, through the medium of which applications might he dealt with. The league would have to be in close touch with the office in London. We would have to arrange for some sort of hostel accommodation. He thought it required only to be pushed by some bocly like the league and it would prove successful. If the league took the matter up ho would be only too glad to foster it. Until they got co-ordination with the Home Country emigration would be a failure. His scheme merely touched the emigration of young women. If the scheme was carried into effect they would have to receive women and pay them above the ordinary rate, or offer the standard rato of wages at this end. In conclusion, Mr Sargood expressed the hope that the league would be well supported by the public. The motion for the adoption of the report was carried. Mrs Sim said that the scheme referred to would be placed before the conference next month. The following oPSco-bonrers were elected: President, Mrs Sim; vice-presidents—Mr* Reynolds, Mrs Theomin, and Miss Burt; treasurer, Mrs Fergus ; council—Mesdames Sargood, J. Waddell j3mith, Mark Cohen, Bowles, Walter Young, J. M. Ritchie, Misses Ross, Williams, J. Cooke, Stewart, Begg, Burton, A. C. Anderson, Messrs P. R. Sargood, W". T. Moakman, D. Reid, C. G. White, Walter Young, and the Hon. G-. M. Thomson; auditor, Mr W. T. Monkman; solicitor, Mr C. G. White. Yotes of thanks to the president and Miss Jackson concluded the meeting.