OVERSEAS CLUB

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1654, 22 January 1913, Page 4

OVERSEAS CLUB

A TALK WITH THE ORGANISER. PROGRESS IN NEW ZEALAND. Mr. Evelyn Wrench, honorary organiser of the Overseas Club, returned to Wellington from the south on 'Monday morning. Accompanied by his sister, ho speut two weeks in the Cold Lakes district, part of that lime being spent in the walk to Milford Sound. Mr. Wrench' slates that he was tremendously impressed by the beauties of the scenery through which he passed. In 'his opinion, New Zealand is. not sufficiently known as a tourist resort, and he tliinks .that the liovernment, by. a policy ot judicious publicity, could attract great numbers of visitors from the Western United States and Canada. If the (Jovernment does adopt a policy of this kind, however, Mr. Wrench considers that it will be necessary to improve the hotel accommodation in some' ot the country places. He hopes when he leaves New Zealand to act as an unofficial publicity agent on its behalf, and to do all he can to induce others, lo visit the Dominion, as a return for the many' Civilities ho has received here.

It is impossible to bo long in' tho company of. Mr. Wrench without hearing something about tho Overseas Club, and he presently began to talk; about some of its later developments in -New Zealand and elsewhere. One thing, ho mentioned was that the various branches of the club do useful work' as, information' bureaux answering the inquiries of persons in all parts of the Empire. The branch at Victoria (British Columbia) in this way uo fewer than 300 inquiries .'last'.year about local conditions in British Colum\ bia. "■■'■;.' ' '■ -

It has teen arranged that all branches of tho Overs.'as Club shall carry out some form of celebration on Umpire Day, May H, and a'number of branches wilt celebrate Trafalgar Day, On. Empire Day iie.it it is hoped that;a chain of bonfires will bo lighted right round the Empire, In Jjew Zealand a number of clubs liavo agreed to provide bonfires; one is to ba lighted on Coronation Hill nt' Christchurch, and it is hoped that there will ba a chain of fires from tho Nurth Cape to the Bluff." .

, Mr. Wrench litis been in New' Zealand for about two months. lie spent a couple of weeks-in holiday touring, but in theremaining six accomplisheda,• gwut deal of work. The-brancnes in New Zealand, Mr. .Wrench slates, arc progressing very satisfactorily. For example, when he arrived, the .'(Jhristchurch branch had five members. When he left it had something like two hundred members. ■'.. The, total number of members of the; Overseas Club i» tho Dominion at tlio presentitimo-is between fourteen and filteen thousand. -.'

.-.' "Tho chief object of my, trip," said Mr. Wrench, "was to discuss mailers with,tho local executives, to plan co-operation between the different branches, and generally to ; bring our Mew Zealand members' a. little'bit. more closely in touch /with nur members in other parts of the world. 1 am more than satislKd with my .visit to New Zealand: In my first 20 days in the country I addressed 2-1 meetings, and it was 'worth it! : I -'have had. only, two disappointments in eight weeks. ' ,' ''Our best branch in NewZealaud.'is at. Diuiedin. It has 1850 members. Ono'of; the; best features of' my visit to New Zealand has' been the pleasant spirit of cooperationJJiat exists l>3tweeii the branches of tho .Overseas Club and thoso of the Victoria League. Wo believe- that Imperial* Unity .can be best s«rved;by co--operation between the various societies working for the' Kline objects', as oui> ,wlves. Tho club, Mr. Wrench mentioned, doc-snot tie its members down in any .way. It numbers > in its - ranks ; members, who, approve of local navies and others" who adhere to the system of- cash contributions to the uaVyi The branches of tho club promote free discussion upon this and other debatable subjects. ; ; • • ""_ "So iar as Wellington is concerned,''' 'Mr. Wrench remarked, "I hope that one' result of my visit will be closer co-opcra'-' tioii; between. tho different organisations here 'which'. exist for Imperial ends.' At/ Auclcljliul, the-Victoria League and. the Overseas Club have a combined patriotic concert and'demonstration oh Empire Day. This has become an.annual affair,-and last' year was attended by'an audience of B<oo;'V":.':".■■-.■ ■■.:.■. "■ ■•: - '■.;-.-.; ' ? v:7

Uf ;the press.of the, nonunion, >lli\ Wrench speaks in high-terms.." He declares that it will easily boar comparison' with the press of any of the British-speak: ing countries he has : visited,,' outside the Mother Country itself. '■■"'•:'■

To-morrow ft meeting of the Overseas Club will ha held in the Sydney Street Schoolroom at'B p.m;, and addresses on the objects of the club will be delivered by Mr, Wrench ami by Miss Wrench. An open ipvitation to attend is extended to all-in-terested in Imperial matters, whether they are members of the club or not. On- Friday at 10, a.in, a branch conference will bo held in No. 1 Commiitre lioom at the Town Hall. ; It,is hoped that as an outcome of the eonfereucs a Dominion "council will be set up to control-the 'New 1 Zealand branches of the Overseas Club. Delegates are to, attend from: all. the leading centres' and from'.: numerous other 'towns.' They will be welcomed by his Worship the .Mayor. ■••.,-. :■■, ■!.,'■ '-'.-■ ■