OVERSEAS CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1529, 27 August 1912, Page 5

OVERSEAS CLUB.

4 .. . FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. " IMPERIAL PROBLEMS. ; ADDRESS BY lORD ISLINGTON. Tho first nimunl incelin» of the Wol hold ,n tho Sydney Sire, .4 Schoolroom las evening. S,r Edward albbeg i( , od | J hoso present incln./ cd . H j s Excollrnc , ho Onvornor Islington), tllo jr on \\ D ' Bel • tho F An. A. L. Herdmnn an, ;. ,\- ? H , ma "' - Mrs - Goill(, y. ""I Mr. j It. \\ . Aitken. attcn^-"^ 11 r? id "'"Ml""* who ha, a toiled t ib oal . liei . mcetllg l)f tlu< cl„ i.;! i .' ,c i' s ' l)Ut nt l ' he filct tl>«t a "mil th,»i, * gentlemen hail given i urn'/ support. Apologias for uiuivoiduhl n» -once had been sent in by the Prim Bishop Sprolt, mid General God <py. ilcpi-csDiitativcs of tho Vietoriai League and Navy League were present. I mere, piling up 0 f numbers had appeal to the comniiltco, there might Imve beei nw thousand names on tho roll iusteai ot two hundred. Wellington was not givoi to sudden enthusiasms, and no doubt it enthusiasm was tempered bv wise discrc ion. the selection of activities in whirl tho cub might engage had boon eonsid 01 ed by tho committee, and iprobably i series of addresses would bo arranged 'fat lho nruirtal report (already published was read by the secretary, Captain' Bar Objects of the Club. Lord Islington said that it had beei his privilege, already to attend manv meet lugs ot this club in various parts of Nov Zealand, and ho had agreed to atlem several others during tho next thro. raonWis. Iheso organisations would bo o tho greatest possiblo use in tho futun m promoting the. unity of tho Empin under tho British flag. Tho Oversea! Uub was but two years old, but its pro gross during those two years had beei almost phenomenal in character. It hac penetrated to all parts of the Empire, am thousands of British people had been en rolled. He' was glad that ninny branche: had been started in New Zealand, whicl were likely to bo successful in tho vean to come. People might ask what was tin object of this organisation. What did v proposo io effect that was not alreadi effected by other organisations of a simi lar character? Ho was glad to hear thai two of these other organisations were re presented that evening. Tho Victorii Leaguo and Navy League were carryin; out tho purposes for which they had beer started. The Overseas Club would in sonn degree supplement tho work that was beinj 'dono by theso and kindred institutions This movement wiis, in its strictest sense, a- non-political and non-partj character. He hoped that his preseiie! there ■ was sufficient proof of that. Air other point was that tho Overseas Chit was not a class institution. The author; of this organisation in London realised that in a widespread movement of the kind tho rules and regulations should be as elastic as possible. Thcr wcree sc many divergent interests in the Empire that a stereotyped codo of rules would not have been applicable. Discussing the activities in whijh tho Overseas Club could engage, Lord Islington said that it could render no nioro valuablo service than by affording people in different parts of tho Empire means of obtaining bettor and more accurate information in regard to its component units. It became more and more necessary oven- day that people in all parts of tho Empire should recognise those fundamental questions which wero equally tho interest of tho whole Empire and of its component parts. The independence of different parts of tho Empire made the internal problems of each Dominion more and more absorbing, but external questions of interest (o tho wholo should not be regarded as of secondary importance. Tho greatest of theso questions were of the first importance not only to tho Empire as a whole, but to its individual States. Such questions were those of Imperial defence, trade and commerce, etc. It was of the most supreme importance that information and knowledgo in regard to these vital questions should bo as accessible as possible to those who lived in tho widelyseparated portions of the Empire. The Empire was an organism and its health depended upon tho health of each of its component parts. The Overseas Club could serve a. valuable purpose in disseminating information. There would inevitably follow a warm and glowing enthusiasm for the great traditions of the British Empire/ The club should bend its energies not so much upon social and entertaining duties its upon tlios* of education and information in Imperial matters. Much had been done in the cause of Imperial unity at successive Imperial Conferences, but much still '■ remained to be done. Tho final solution of the problem of Imperial unity could only como about by a gradual process, and not as tho result solely of Imperial conferences or of tho inspired propaganda of anv individual, however able, but by tho steady trend of pubho opinion in tho different dominions, through the people realising more and more- that in practical unity is to bo found tho surest guarantee against quarrel or outsido disturbance. (Applause.) Imperial unity would gradually como about by the peoplo of each dominion coming to be more intimately acauainted with the fact that under dho British flag a system of constitutional government had been established which was better adapted to character and instincts of the British people than any other which had yet been devised or could bo found under any other flag, and the preservation of wbicb during tho years to como was worth anv sacrifico in money or in men that it might entail. He believed that the Overseas Club might develop into an influenco which would act as an impetus to tho discissions of the Imperial Conference in London. He hoped that the Wellington branch would always bear in mind this line of action as being most, likelv to fulfil tho objects for which it had'been established. (Applause.) Heirs to the Samo Tradition. Tho Hon. 11. D. Bell tendered an apology on behalf of tho Prime Minister, who was unable to attend. Ho was not sure that after hearing his Excellency they ivould want to hear anything from "Internal Affairs." It was not truo that svery movement in which a Governor took in interest succeeded, but no movement of this kind could succeed unless the Governor took an interest in it and supported t. There was a danger, ho took it, that ivc of this generation might not hand lown to,our children's children tho tralitions which our fathers' fathers had banded down to us. Since Virgil stirred the Romans no peoplo had been so stirred >y a poet as Kipling had stirred tho lotions under tho King. In one of Kipiiig's stories thero was a character, Hira Singh, who said to an Englishman, "Bo issured, sahib, that if any other game should ariso, wo shall play it out sido >y sido with you." Applying tho quota:ion, ho would say to Lord Islington: "Bo issured, Governor Sahib, that if any other tame should ariso wo sball play it out ido by side with you." (Applause.) kVe had a selfish interest in tho asmciaion with England, Mr. Bell continued, iitt also something more than that. Wo vcre heirs to the same tradition and to Ji'o same languago; to the faith and norals that Milton held, amd Io tho ongue that Shakespeare spoke. Ho did lot sen how tho association could be Token, but there was need for the work if every man and woman to keep it inact. This should remain a British cotinry. joined in alliance—whether subject o it or not—with tho. home of the race ;> which wo belonged. On behalf of tho lovernment, he congratulated those who iad initiated and carried on the work of he club, lis end and aim should be'tho nd ami aim of every Englishman. (Anna use.) Two Kinds of Patriotism. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdmnn said that here were two kinds of patriotism. There ras the militant kind to which most pooile who thought seriously took exception, t found expression in blowing of {runlets, beating of drums, and tho utterance t public meetings of pompous platitudes, 'ho bettor patriotism was deep and serins, and did not discover itself in the •ays which he had described. It decided ml determined in a strong way that no latter what might como duty would be, M'ioiisly and sternly done. 'Phis was the iud of patriotism which the Overseas 'lub proposed to encourage So long as lie people of the different parts of the iritish Empire considered well (be proleuis confronting thorn, legislated wisely, I

and remained firm in a determination to protect tho honour and integrity of lh< Lmpiro, tho Empire would bo safe. H« wished tho Overseas Club much bucccsj and long life. .(Applause.) A Splendid Work. Mr. J. G. W. Aitken said that if the Overseas Club over attained anything lili<i tho work that his! Excellency h'od set cut for it to do, then it would become one. ' of the very best institutions over started in tho Empiijo. He was satisfied that so far as military demands wore concerned no part of the Empire would shrink from meeting them should the .need nrise. In this age, Mr. Aitken continued, peoplo were much given to the pursuit of pleasure. Probably wo wero giving as much attention to that sido of things as it was wise for a people to give. On tho other hand, education was somewhat neglected.. If we, as a people, had to undergo an examination as to the condition] that obtained in very few would pass muster. To repair this lack of know, ledge would be a splendid work for tin Overseas Club to undertake. It was exceedingly desirable.that people in one oi its parts should know what was goinj on in others parts of the Empire. .No moro useful occupation could bo found for young people than study of tho different .' countries under tho British flag. It wan necessary to look ahead. There would have to 1» a good deal of sacrifico and development if wo were to keep the position wo occupied in the world. (Applause.) A vote of thanks was accorded thf speakers of tho evening.