VICTORIA LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 223, 14 June 1919, Page 6

VICTORIA LEAGUE

RECORD OF PATRIOTIC WORK

ANNUAL MEETING

The animal meeting of the Victoria Leaguo was held in the Pioneer Clubrooms last evening. Mr. C. B. Smith presided, and there was a large attendance of members.

The report of the year's work, presented by the lion, secretary, was as follows: "The record for the year is a record ot special effort rather than of sustained activity. The sympathies and energies ot members have bnen diverted into other channels, and during the year it was found impossible to carry on tho active .policy of extension and of development that had been laid down at the conference in March, lillS. It was decided instead to let other activities go and con. cen'trate upon tho Soldiers' Medical Comforts Fund. In this connection it might be mentioned that this branch of the league was one of the first of the existing societies to take part in organised efforts for the benefit of soldiers and of sufferers in invaded countries. The first caeesot medical comforts and hospital clothing went to Samoa with the troops, and since then ovory transport sailing from these shores has had on hoard cases of invalid comforts. This work went on unremittingly until tho end of the war, and to .tho president and those associated with her in this work great praise is due. That tho work was appreciated has been shown by the many letters received from tho medical officers on board the various troopships, all expressing deep gratitude. On 'Violet; Day" the league, in co-opera-tion with the W.N.1!., organised a street sale, and as a result £170 was handed in. A special vote of thanks was due to Mr. O'Sullivan, who placed a room in his office at the disposal of the committee as a depot for goods. In September a charming entertainment was organised by Miss Mary Butler. It took place in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, with the result that a cheque for .£G7 was handed in to the treasurer of the French Relief Fund. Many thanks were due to Miss Butler, Mr. AY. H. L. Cooper, and to the ladies of tlio Navy League Ladies , Auxiliary. On Kindergarten Day and on Returned Soldiers' Day Victoria. League ofTice.rfi took part, and in April a reception to 185 soldiers' wives arriving from England was organised and carried out with much success. . .

It line teen considered expedient to post pone tho second conference until October, when the delegates will meet in Auckland. A suggestion made at the previous conference, was that existing patriotic ■societies instead of disbanding be induced to join t,lio league en bloc. New Zealand soldiers and those of sister Dominions have found hospitality at the many hostels and canteens established in Great Britain. A few months ago the leagun lost a valuable member by the death of Jlr. Atkins. The late Mr. Atkins was n. member* of the council, and when appealed to his sympathetic ndvice and encourngement were always at the service of tho members. His place will not he easily tilled. Tho hoft. secretary, Mrs. J. ]j. Gray, had found it necessary J.O resign in July, and since then the league has teen under the disadvantage of being without .1 permanent'.secretary." In moving, the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the latter showing a balance in hand of close upon ,£lO, Sir. Smith congratulated members upon the valuable work they had carried out in providing troopships with medical comforts. It had been splendidly done and great; praise was due to Jliss Coates and those associated willi her in the organisation of such beneficent work. Both officers and men on board these ships had expressed the greatest appreciation of the comforts.' Thanks also were due to tlio merchants who had contributed so largely to this work by their gifts. It was most gratifying lo think that through the agency of the league no troopship left; these shores without supplies of medical comforts on board, in conclusion, Mr. Smith spoke of faces which were now absent from their meetings, among them being tho late Dr. Martin, who was so familiar a figure, at their gatherings, and now they had lost Jlr. Atkins, who had been a valued member of- Hie council. They were mem bers who could ill be spared. Tho league was also suffering by the illness of Mr. C. B. Morison, a very loyal and sincere worker, and they all hoped for bis speedy and complete recovery. Mr. Smith also congratulated members upon the fact that they were left with a balance in hand for tho coming year. Mrs. •• Luke, the Mayoress, in seconding tho motion, said that she could not help thinking of yet another time when the Victoria League had worked for the amelioration of the distress caused by the war, that other occasion being in connection with tho Boer war, when it. had worked hand-in-liand witti the affiliated body of the Soldiers' Graves Committee. Looking, around the room there were above twelve members present who had taken an active part in (hat work. She was glad that they had found a niche to fill during this war, and had worked os they had done. Mrs. Luke also made special reference to tho work of the girls' entertainment branch of the league, the members of which had done so much, to lighten the monotony of camp life for the soldiers in training. ' Mrs. Chatfield, on behalf of the branch, thanked the Mayoress for her remarks, and said that what they had done in the way of providing entertainment in the camps had undoubtedly been appreciated. The girls had really given up a great deal of time. It had meant giving up two evenings a week for rehearsals, and when giving a special entertainment it meant every night for some weeks. They had given this time cheerfully, and had always maintained a good standard of work in regard to their entertainments. •.'

Jliss Coates also made a brief speech, and spoke appreciatively of the girls' entertainments. She also told her hearers that she had received from the league in England a largo consignment of \rietoria League literature, and members should lose no time in obtaining it from her. Several cases of films—scenery, old churches, villages nml buildings—hndnlso arrived, and she hoped that they would soon be exhibited.

The following officers wore elected :- Pnlviins for New Zealand. His I'Jxccllency the Gnvernor-General and the Couiitess of Liverpool: president. ■ Mi«s Coates: council, Jlcsdnmo.-s Mnsscy, Bliindell, Corrigan, Gray, Larnach. J. Mackenzie, Samuel. Snelson. ShirtclifiV, Trim) Dr. Plnits-Mills. the Msivor (Jlr. ,T. P. Luke, C.M.G., M.P.), Mr. C. 11. Morison. K.C., Mr. C. E. Smith. Professor Knnkine Brown; executive committee. Miss Contes. Jtesdnmcs G. AV. Veid Tj. Blundoll, J. Bell, Larnach, S. Hfireourt, AV. D. Stnwnrt, .T. D. Gray, Arndt, Ching, Xliss Holmes; lion, secretary and treasurer, pro tem, Mrs. Bankino Brown; vice-presidents. Mrs. Luke, Mrs Grady, Jlr. C. ft. Smith, and Jlr. C. B. Mor'ison. K.C.