ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 42

ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE

—— — —rer. OPENING OF LADIES’ QUARTERS. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT’S VISIT. From UVr Own Correspondent.! LONDON, November 2. Yesterday afternoon members of the Royal Colonial Institute met at the headquarters, Northumberland Avenue, to celebrate the opening of the new luncheon room and ladies’ quarters. A warm welcome was extended to the Duke of Connaught, who was attended by Lieutenant-colonel Sir Malcolm -Murray Sir Godfred Landen (chairman of the council), in welcoming . the Duke of Connaught as their president, explained that the improvements that had been carried out- were part of a progressive movement to give tlie institute a wider scope and make it more attractive and comfortable. The council were anxious that tlie usefulness of the institute should be made known, so that they might double their present membership. Tlie institute had no endowment fund, and it depended entirely for its maintenance upon the subscriptions of the members. The Duke of Connaught expressed hia pleasure at being present, and to see the dteep interest that was taken in the usefulness of the institute. He was happy to congratulate the ladies upon the increased accommodation it afforded. He hoped the improvements that had been effected would be the means of increasing the membership. When he had the honour of presiding at the Colonial Institute dinner he pointed out that they had great ideas for the future, but those ideas were rather in the air for want of funds. He trusted that tlie financial depression that prevailed at that time was clearing off, for funds were as necessary now as they were when he addressed them. He, however, felt sure that tlie necessity for the institute was appreciated here, in the centre of the Empire, and in different parts of our great Overseas Dominions, and that it would attract others to join them and do what they could to promote better buildings and enable them to expand. In this connection his Royal Highness mentioned that they were indebted! to Mr H. R. Denison, of Sydney, New South Wales, for his splendid lead in giving £25,000. —(“Hear, hear.”) He trusted tins would be an enoouragement to others to act generously in so worthy a cause.