GAELIC SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 41

GAELIC SOCIETY

The monthly meeting of the Gaelic Society was held on the 24th inst. in Kroon’s Hail. There was a good attendance of me.ubers, and in the absence of the chief— Dr M’Killop—Chieftain J. D. Cameron took the chair. Accompanying Chieftain J. 1). Cameron on the platform v.as Air 11. C. Cameron, late Produce Commissioner of the New' Zealand Government in Lou. don. Tlie Chieftain, before calling on the first item on the programme, introduced to the meeting Mr 14. C. Cameron, and intimated that their guest would later in the evening have a few words to say about the distribution of the Highland and Islands Relief Funds. Mr 11. C. Ca neron on rising to speak received a cordial reception. lie spoke of the pleasure he had in being back again in Dunedin after uti absence of 50 years. It was a treat to see the old faces and renew acquaintances with his old friends. Before leaving the Homeland Mr Cameron had been up at Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Inverness had three places of interest —its gaol, its asylum, and its cemetery, and each was a point whence a beautiful panorama of highland scenery opened cut. The body chosen by the late High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, for carrying out the distribution of the Highland and Islands Relief Funds was the Highland Land League, and Mr Cameron was attached to the league to represent New Zealand. There was a great deal of suffering, and many cases of hardships in the highlands on account of all the young manhood being at the W'ar from its commencement, and it was very difficult to discriminate the most deserving cases, as the Highlander is by nature reserved and proud, and does not parade his poverty. To overcome this they enlisted the help of the clergy of all denominations, and by this means the most deserving, irrespective of creeds or politics, received their due share. Mr Cameron could assure the society that every puny of the money was faithfully and judiciously distributed. T he contribution sent bv New Zealand was far and away beyond that sent by any other country. Letters expressing the thanks of the crofters came from all parts of the Highlands, and some of them were most touching. Mr Cameron concluded by thanking the society on behalf of the Highlanders for its kindness and sympathy shown in contributing so • liberally. The chairman (Air J. I). Cameron) Ilia lined Mr Cameron for his explanatory address and for Ills thoughtfulness in visiting them, and assured him of a cordial reception at any time he found it convenient to attend.