VICTORIA LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1116, 2 May 1911, Page 8

VICTORIA LEAGUE.

4 THE PAST YEAR. I "STRENUOUS BUT SUCCESSFUL." J The fourth annual public meeting of ■ the Victoria League was held in the Syd- ! ney Street: Schoolroom last evening. His Worship the .Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford) presided over an attendance of about 150, most of whom were ladies. ' Amongst those present besides the 1 Mayor and Mrs. Wilford were the ActingPrime Minister (the Hon. Jas. Carroll), j Mi'. A. L. Herdman, M.l\, aud Mrs. | Herdman, Mr. C. P. l'owles, Mrs. M. L. , Chattield, Miss Coates, Dr. Izard, Captain Richardson (Xew Zealand General Staff). Annual Report, The annual report read by tlie secretary (Mrs. M. Ji. Chattield) stated that the league had como through a strenuous but successful year. It.had now a membership of about J.jO, and the number was steadily increasing. Over one hundred members had beeu supplied with introductions to adherents ot the league in Louden during the year, and news eamo constantly of many benefits received. Other activities of tho league mentioned in the report were the coltcction and distribution of books and periodicals and tho delivery of lecturettes to school children upon Imperial topics. Tho baiance-shcof, read by Mrs. Luke, showed that at the beginning of the financial year, in April, 1910, the league had a credit balance of JC3O 19s. 7d. Receipts tluring the year totalled ,£llß Is. Id., and expenditure JCBG ISs. 9d., leaving a credit balance' on March 31, 1911, of •£3l 2s. dd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Address by the Acting-Premier. The Acting-Prime .Minister (Hon. Jas. Carroll) remarked that the league had already done a great deal of good. It was pleasant to reflect that anyone could leave these shores and receive kindness in the Old World, aud that those coming out here could claim equal privileges. In its bearing on our existence as an Empire, the ieague deserved every considcration. Much importance attached to the building up of an equable social life, and as time went on no doubt the gentle influence of women, exemplified in the work of the league, would have ell'ects of far-reaching importance. The Empire and tho world at present were (spending an enormous amount, of the people's money on armaments. The tinio must como when the people would no longer consent to bear this enormous burden. When this came to pass it would be ncces-ary to rely on organisations, formed in different parts of' th; Empire by women who sought, by their gentle ministrations, to promote harmony and peace. The influence thus generated would go a long way towards providing what was wanted. Already it was clear that a vital necessity in the near future would be same scheme of peace preservation. At present it could be. seen that tho subject interesting the minds of statesmen abroad was tho subject of peace arbitration lately outlined' by President Taft. The speaker believed there were possibilities of some scheme being arrived at whereby the keen edge of militarism might be taken off. Possibly tho combined ministrations of the women of our Empire might avail to quieten down the raging pugnacities of the world which had to bs reckoned with to-day. Concluding, Mr. Carroll expressed a hope that the league might continue to prosper and to work for the domestic, social, and national welfare of the people of the Empire. , Two Good Objects. Mr. A. L. Herdmnn said 110 understood the league had two main objects. One was the good of the nation, and the other the psrpetuation of the memory of Queen Victoria. Both objects must be approved, and the last certainly not least. Students of history would agree that flip influence for good of Queen Victoria, over the British nation, over the world, and over the character of the British people, had been enormous. During the reign of Queen Victoria, British territories and the power of the natiou aliko expanded, but still more remarkable was tho improvement which occurred during her reign in the standard of public conduct. "Under her ' sway, Ministers of the Crown, ambassadors, officers, and all occupying high positions/ stood for honesty, integrity, and solid worth. Mr. Herdman said he declined to subscribe to a prophecy that the sun of England and of the Empire "would soon sink behind the western hills." Analogies were drawn, he said, between the British Empire and great empires of the past. A comparison with Rome and Greece showed, however, that distinctions were to be drawn. These empires sank because their leaders were corrupt and their peoples abandoned to luxury. • These faults could not be alleged against the British nation. 3lr. Herdman declared that he had a profound faith in the average Englishman—not the man who liked ' to wave a flag and talk about "the dear Homeland"—but the man who went about his business in a quiet, unobtrusive sort of way. Men of this typo were of unflinch- ■ • courage and indefatigable in effort. While the average Englishman remained of this type no true parallel could be drawn between the British Empire and empires that had fallen in the past. Children's Essay Competition. Mrs. Salmond, who had judged a children's essay competition promoted by tho icaguo during the year, stated in a brief report that of fifty-three papers sent in twelve camc from primary, 23 from secondary, and 24 l'rom private schools, mostly in and around Wellington. Writers of the essays in most cases rose to the occasion, and proved themselves possessed of both knowledge and imagination. Following is the prize list:— Secondary Schools: Marjorie Houghton, Girls' College (Sir Joseph Ward's first prize); Helen M. Harnett, Hutt District High School (Mr. J. Coatcs's second prize). Honourable mention: -Natalie Bell, Hutt D.H.S.; Freda Parkinson, Newtown D.ILS.; M. Castle, Newtown D.H.S. Primary Schools: Alfrida M. Kitson, Hutt D.H.S. (Mr. 1?. Turnbull's first prizo); Viola Turner, Mount Cook Girls' School (Mr. R. Turnbull's second prize). Honourable mention: Helen Andrews, Mount Cook Girls' School; Kathleen Beales, Mount Cook Girls' School. Private Schools: Eleanor Rutherford, Chilton Houso School (Mr. Coates's first prize); Dorothy Morrah, Craven School, l'almerston North (Sir J. Ward's second prize). Spccial prize, "A -I," Miss Butt's School. Honourable mention: G. Bernard, Craven School; Vida Caldwell, Craven School; Isabel field, Chilton House; Dorothy Evans, Chilton House; "A 2," Miss Butt's School; Dorothy Bissett, Chilton House; and "A 0," Miss Butt's School. A number of tho prizes were presented by Miss .Coates. Tho others , will bo forw'ai'dod to successful competitors. On tho motion of Dr. Izard, tho Mayor was accorded a vote of thanks for presiding. Replying, Mr. Wilford regretted that so few men were present. Ho hoped men would come forward and help to mako a success of this most excellent movement.