VICTORIA LEAGUE WORK

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2138, 2 May 1914, Page 11

VICTORIA LEAGUE WORK

LONDON CONFERENCE.

n ,i,? nfor ? c ? to , discus 3 the existing anangomonts for t h o reception and welcoming of settlers, with special referWoL n lctona League's Setters' ! Organisation, was held in London recently at Millbank House, un-F-Va, n a , lrmanshi P' of Lor(l Plunkot, land) (ox-Governor of New ZeaIn his opening speech, Lord Plunkot uuclt, upon the great advantago which it must bo to tho Empire, that its members, arriving at either side, should nnd a welcomo awaiting them—this was a matter of Imperial importance. Ho kuew from his experience as Governor in Now Zealand, what valuablo work was dono by tho Victoria League. What the league now wished was that all existing organisations Vhould help each other to deal with settlors and visitors, avoiding asimuch as possible overlapping and waste of money, timo, or trouble. Sir Edward Cook described to those present tho network of machinerythroughout tho Empire, provided by the different Victoria Leagues and their allied associations. "An important branch of Victoria League' work," he said, "and porhaps the one by which tho league is most widely known—is tho organisation of hospitality. Every member of a Victoria League overseas who visits England is assured, if he cares to a Pl'ly, of a friendly welcome here, and any member of the leaguo visiting the. Dominions is assured of the like there. \\o, don't merely organise 'tea-fights or procure invitations to, 'crushes' and the like—though these things are not to be despised; but wo try to introduce Victoria League visitors *to homo life if they need it. An organisation to secure a friendly welcomo on Victoria League lines for any settler in the Dominions 1 who was able to produce proper ereden-1 tials had been suggested. It was a cheerless thing to arrive in a new country unknown. To- have a friend', someolio to give a word of advice or information, made all tho difference between misery and comfort, success and failure." The Victoria League's hospitality wor.V nnd tho relation it would bear to. tho proposed organisation, thß means" it offered of bringing a larger number of settlers within roach of the facilities it would offer, was then discussed. Among tho speakers was the Hon. 'Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New. Zealand.