PROMOTING UNITY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 6

PROMOTING UNITY

AN IMPERIAL MISSION COLONIAL INSTITUTES' WORK SECRETARY IN WELLINGTON To extend tihe activitifes of the Royal Colonial Institute is the mission of Mr. Jas. R. Boose, secretary, who is touring New Zealand at present. Mr. Boose arrived in Wellington last night, from Gisbomo, and to a Dominion reporter gave some interesting, information regarding the institute. Earl Grey, who was in New Zealand in the early part of the present, year, is the president of the Royal Colonial Institute, and during nis visit he expressed the hope that the Fellowship might be-' increased to 100,000. Mr. Boose was accordingly sent from London on a tour of the colonies, to "boost" the membership. "The main purpose-of the institute," said Mr. Boose, "can be summed up in the words: 'To develop a true spirit of Empire, and to strengthen the bonds of kinship which bind the Motherland and the Overseas Dominions together.' " There has been a groat development in the work and the support given to the institute during the last four or five years. In 1909 the membership was 4200| whereas now it stands at 10,500. The motto of the . Fellows is ''United Empire," And it has. been their work to promote the great cause of closer union by every possible means. Centre of Colonial Interest. The Royal Colonial Institute, which was started two years beforo as the Colonial Society, took the former name in 1870, and became at once a clubhouse whero persons from all parts of the Empire might exchange experiences, and an information bureau, whence the latest and most authoritative facts with regard to the 'Empire might be made known. It has now fully justified its name, and its headquarters, in Northumberland Avenue, London, have become a centre of great colonial interest. Recognising that . in- these days of I democracy t'lie task of consolidating the Empire can no longer safely be left in the hands of .the upper and the middle classes, the Royal Colonial Institute 'is ■ now seeking, by means of popular illustrated lectures, to bring home to the knowledge and conscience of the people the resources of the Empire and the opportunities and responsibilities attending on its right use and development. This work promises to yield most valuable, results.

Magnificent Colonial Patriotism. Tho present Fellowship, ■' say 6 Mr. Boose, is pretty evenly divided up between all part 6of the Empire. His presont tour has met with ' considerable success, both in Australia and New Zealand. The present-Empire crisis has in no way. retarded this. Mr. Boose states: "It has been remarked to' mo more than once that 1 planned this at an unfortunate time. .Well, in the first place, I left England before there was any idea of war, and then again I am not disposed to agree that it is an unfortunate tunc, because it has given mo an opportunity of seeing this magnificent outburst of patriotism' on the part of tho people both of New Zealand and Australia. The time, I think, is propitious, when we are seeing the Mother Country and the various Dominions standing together as one" nation in defence of a'common heritage. I have been absolutely astonished at the magnificent response that has been made to the need for assistance, hot only on the part of the men, but-also of the women of both Australia and Zealand. I have gone into many places and seen the house turned upside down to make room for Red Cross and other work by tho women. In Government House, both in Sydney, and Melbourne, the largest room was at the disposal of the women working for the Expeditionary Force, Headquarters for Overseas Troops. It will come as welcome news to many New "Zealanders to know that the Institute in London has been made the headquarters of all' overseas troops'. The Council of the Royal Colonial Institute is always willing and anxious to place the resources of tho Institute at the disposal of any part of the Empire. This fact was known to tho War.Office, and when war broke out and great stress was felt at the War Office building, it was decided to accept the offer of the Institute, arid make its building the headquarters for the overseas soldiers. Mr. Boose nas seen many of these troops in Australia and New Zealand, and has been impressed by their "appearance and physique. Education on Imperial Matters. Imperial education is a work the Institute is taking up, says the secretary* • They are endeavouring to foster amongst the rising generation a better knowledge of Imperial affairs. The Council now offers very valuable prizes for essays, to schools and colleges, both in the United Kingdom and throughout the whole of the Empire. In order to create a greater interest amongst writers on Imperial questions the Council offers a gold medal, together with a cheque for 100 guineas, and a hon. life Fellowship, for a monograph dealing with some Imperial question. The subject for tho present year is: "Tile ArA plicability of the dictum that 'a democracy cannot manage an Empire' to the present conditions and future problems of-the British' Empire, particularly tho question of the future of India. The monographs, must bo received from Aow ■Zealand at tho Institute, London, not later than April 29, 1915. . Mr. A. H. Turnbull is the corresponding secretary for the Institute in Wellington, and will give particulars to those desirous of entering. • .... ■- Mr. Boose will address a meotmg of the Fellows in Wellington this.afternoon. The chair will be taken by Mr. A R Atkinson, and amongst those present, if his duties permit, will be tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jns. Allen), who is an enthusiastic member of the'institute.. , ; ■ ' It is interestmg to remember that at tho last annual meeting of-Fellows tho idea was put forward to change the name to "The Royal Britannic Institute." ' Tliis was fully discussed, and it was then decided that any suggested change should be submitted to the whole of tho Fellows .of the Institute, foT a postal referendum.

The Mayorejs of Masterton Mrs. J. M. Coradine) has received the following further donations for tho Queen Mary, Fund:—Mrs. E. E. Mawley, £2; Mrs. Norman Beetham, 10s.; and Mrs. H. Watson, two wove"n cholera belts; also parcels for the Belgian poor from Mrs. E. E. Chamberlain, St. Matthew's Church Sowing Guild, t Mrs. Rishworth, a Friend, Mrs. J. Morris (Roniebusli), 'and Mrs. W. Bunny (Glenburn)., At Sotheby'6 £250 was realised for a largo paper copy of tho first edition of "Gulliver's Travels," issued in 1726.' A first edition of Scott's "Waverloy," 1814, brought.£2oo, and an uncut presentation copy of the first edition of Tennyson's "Poems," IS3O, fetched' £13G. _ Over one-half of the trees struck by lightning are poplars. From this fact scientists conclude .that the.poplar has somo value as a conductor of lightning. Therefore, agriculturists in some quaj> ters are advised to plant these trees in the vicinity of their farm buildings, •