BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 20494, 24 May 1928, Page 8

BIG BROTHER MOVEMENT

LORD LOVAT’S TRIBUTE. London, April 5. Mr Richard Linton (a quondam New Zealander and now a well-known resident of Melbourne) was entertained at luncheon this week by the members of the London Comittee of the Big brother movement, of which Mr Linton was the founder. Lord Lovat presided at the luncheon, which was held at the Royal Colonial Institute, guests present including Sir Henry and Lady Cowan. Lord Lovat said that the Big Brother Movement was as definite a movement as that of Cecil Rhodes when he started his scholarship scheme. It was a movement possible of very great extension and applicable to any one of the Dominions and he hoped it would become universal throughout the Empire. Perhaps its greatest merit was that it was not confined to any social strata, but was open to all classes of the community. This was illustrated by the fact that the boys who had migrated under the scheme comprised 80 from public schools, 600 from secondary schools, and 500 from primary schools. British stock was as good to-day as the original stock that had built up Australia. Mr Linton, speaking of the success of the movement in Australia, attributed it to the careful selection of boys sent out by the London Committee and to the equally careful selection in Australia of the most suitable types of employers. There had been failures, but few in number, and extreme pains had been taken in some cases, the boys having several changes of employers until they finally found themselves suited and happy. The restricted number taken under the scheme was due to the necessity of finding employment and big brothers 'for all the boys. This policy had laid the foundation of the movement securely, and he hoped it would be found possible to take greater numbers at some future date.