CLAN CAMERON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18974, 26 March 1936, Page 15

CLAN CAMERON

REUNION •domM&n INSPIRATION HISTORICAL DEVELOPM ENT "Initiated in New Zealand, our move Went has been taken np at Hoirie and in Japan and Australia, and we hope before Ion? to hear of the successful launchings of "affiliated branches in the United States and Canada. The Clan Cameron is already taking shape as a world-wide organisation, and we in New Zealand are matified to find that our inspiration has Seen so well received," stated Mr, I. I) Cameron, of Masterton, discussing to day the purpose of a brief visit to Cisfaprne, the formation of a provincial tSouncil of the Empire brotherhood oi Pamerons. •'• Explaining his mission. Mr. Cameron stated that he had just completed a toni of North Island centres in furtherance oi 1 the reuniting of every Cameron to the principal source of the clan's historical strength. Gisborne is the last town on his itinerary, and throughout, his tour, the expenses of which he has borne himself, he has found much to encourage him in his labours. Clan Cameron. NewZealand, is already firmly established and its objective now is to See that every man and woman of the name or the blood is enrolled. The Camerons were the first to take up the suggestion of a world-wide enrolment of its members for common purposes, and other clans were now following suit, notably the Stuarts, who recently made their objectives ] üblic

■PRESERVATION OF CLAN LANDS ■ First among the objects of Clan Cameron is the preservation, of the clan lands in Scotland, whence Camerons have travelled to all parts of the world in the last century, but which formerly was the actual home of most of the Camerons extant. Death duties imposed by law in the Old Country are so heavy that each successive death of a chief has tended to impoverish the ancestral properties, which like many others of the larger estates at Home, have been drained of much of their substance.

With a world-wide organisation such as is envisaged in the new project of tjhe Clan Cameron, it will be possible, by united action, to preserve the clan lands intact from generation to generation, by Offerings of a goodwill nature which .could not be taxed as part of the estate, b'nt which would help to defray the dhities at the death of a chieftain. The present head, of the. Clan Cameron is Colon'el Dl W. Cameron, who has given h'is sanction to the movement, but who, for obvious reasons, ta'kes no part in the Piromoiiori.

Hardly of less importance to the proinoters is the preservation of Cameron records, and their expansion into a complete journal of the elan. In this connection the world-wide travels of clansmen and their influence in many spheres j» to be recorded in a story which jfTiould prove of almost unique historical value. To further interest in this scheme, the organisation has in mind the Creation of scholarships for young people cfonducting research into Cameron history, jfiil when this scheme comes to fruition the winners of the scholarships will be enabled to proceed to Scotland to continue their .work.

"It is not generally known who the first Cameron to come to New Zealand was," remarked the. organising elansthis;.feature of the plan". '"Actually he was a seaman on Cook's Endeavour, and probably he was One of the first British sailors to cast an eye upOn. the shores of this country, right iters at Gisborne." SOCIAL AND BENEVOLENT SIDES The chin is to have its social and benevolent sides, as well as those, described, and one aim is to make it possible for clansmen to travel in any part of the world, sure of a welcoming hand df a Cameron to greet and speed them. As an indication of how the clan idea is gripping the imagination of Camerons in various countries, he added that in Shanghai and Singapore, which are grouped in one branch,' there are more Sum SCO Camei oris already enrolled, while in one Australian city alone there ni'B over 600. In New Zealand, the scheme is progressing so well that l the •Auckland provincial council, for example, hopes to have every one of the name in the province enrolled within the year. ", Ultimately, it is planned, there will be annual excursions of Camerons to the Old Country, by chartered steamers, and On attractive terms. The Empire headquarters in Olasgow and the Dominion Councils will arrange the charters, and already an assurance has been obtained that the cost will not be beyond the means of an average family. liocal organisation will be discussed by Sir. I. D. Cameron with other Camerons |t an informal gathering which is to lake place this evening at the Masonic Hotel, where he is a guest.