VICTORIA LEAGUE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1276, 15 March 1918, Page 3

VICTORIA LEAGUE.

THE CONCLUDING SESSION. [Continued from pace 7.] The conference'was resumed to-day, Mr W. J. Napier presiding. Mrs Anderson (Wanganui) moved that, in order to ensure closer co-opera-tion between branches, members leaving one district for another should be provided with introductions, and membership should be considered continuous. Mrs Carey Hill seconded the motion, and said the idea was to keep the interest of departing members alive. The motion was carried. The chairman said that the Auckland branch was incorporated, and he strongly urged all branches to follow the example. He advised them how to go about securing registration as an incorporated body, and the advantages that would accrue. He hoped that the branches would give the matter consideration. The special committee set up to consider the best means of extending membership made the following recommendations, which were adopted:— (1) That each member should be urged to bring in one or more new members during the year. (2) That the lantern slides sent out by the parent league should be used to attract new members. (3) That Empire Day, May 24, should be made a rallying day throughout the Dominion, special arrangements to be made, for speakers in the various centres. (4) That the organised, existing, and patriotic war leagues should be requested not to disband at the end of the war, but join this league en masse. The committee further reported that it was in sympathy with the proposal to provide a New Zealand Victoria League aeroplane, and recommended that the matter be referred for favourable consideration to the respective local councils in each district. The report and recommendations were adopted. ADVICE TO SETTLERS COMMITTEE. The report of the Advice to Settlers Committee of the league stated that the work of the committee had changed in nearly all its aspects. Originally the purpose of the committee was to give information and advice to people of British birth who intended settling in New Zealand, and meet them personally on their arrival. The committee was composed of men of very wide experience of land matters, who were able to do useful work in this direction. Many letters of inquiry, received from members of the league in various parts of the world, were answered as fully as mssible. Prior to the war a considerable number of people came to New ; Zealand bearing introductions from the parent body in London, and in all cases the committee was able to give valuable advice. The secretary of the committee kept, a list of all the Crown and Native lauds open for selection in the country, and as he had a personal knowledge of this work, he was able to suggest the most promising districts. Several league members from the Old Country were by these means able to secure sections, of their own. The same committee also undertook to supply information regarding fishing, shooting, and other sports in New Zealand, and it was owing to this that many visitors had come to New Zealand in search of rest and recreation.- These visitors came from Great Britain, India, South Africa, and the Pacific Islands. Since the war commenced ■ there had been practically a cessation of immigration into New Zealand and of inquiries regarding this country. Nevertheless, the work of the committee had not altogether ceased. At the request of Sir Rider Haggard, who visited New Zealand for the purpose of making arrangements with the Government for the settling of British soldiers on the land in New Zealand, the secretary had entered into correspondence with the Imperial Institute, Loudon, which -was devoting its energies to the work of directing the stream of British immigrants to British countries. The committee offered, through the parent league in Loudon, the same facilities to the institute as had been extended to the league, and this offer had been gratefully accepted. Another work which the committee had interested itself in was the settling of returned soldiers on the land. The committee had urged upon members of Parliament and Cabinet, in various ways, the necessity of making the most liberal provisions, not only for members of our own Expeditionary Force, but for every soldier of British birth, who sought to make a home in this country after the war. It was fully expected that there would bo a big influx of people into this country after the war, and if that was the case the Advice to Settlers Committee hoped that its services would bo frequently called upon by oversea members. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman said that Sir Rider Haggard had secured his appointment as New Zealand representative on the British Empire Land Settlement Committee, and he was consequently in close touch with that body. There would certainly be a big movement in land settlement after the war, and if the league assisted in this work alone, its existence would be justified. The report was adopted. The advisability of introducing the work of the league into the schools in a greater measure than was dqn'e at present was considered. Members exi pressed the opinion that the league might interfere with the good work of the Navy League, and it was decided to reach the children through communicating with the Teachers’ Institute, and publishing literature on Empire matters in the “School Journal.’’ A long discVission took place on the matter of increasing the membership, ! and various suggestions were made. CONCLUDING BUSINESS. It was decided that the next conferI ence should be held in Auckland in I April of next year. j The chairman moved votes of thanks -to the Christchurch branch for initiat--1 ing the first conference and for the kindness and hospitality shown the | visiting delegates, to Mrs Carey Hill, upon whom had fallen the major part lof the work, and to the Mayor of Christchurch.