COLONIAL INSTITUTE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 131, 5 June 1919, Page 8

COLONIAL INSTITUTE

REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING AT

JUBILEE DINNER

WORK TO BE EXTENDED,

(Received June 5, 2 p.m.)

. LONDON, 24th May (delayed). Four hundred guests were present at the jubilee dinner of the Colonial Institute in the Connaught Rooms, and the gathering was fully representative of th. Empire. Sir Joseph Cook (who proposed the Duke of Connaught's health), Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, General Godley, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, and the Agents-General represented Australasia. Mr. Hughes was indisposed. The Duke of Connaught, who presided, announced that a fund had been opened to erect a new institute building, with a large hall, to which £11,000 had been already subscribed.' When tlie institute was founded in 1868 it had 174 members, and now there were 14,000 members, but it was essential to extend its work in order to include the democracy. The institute had also outgrown its name and would have to find a. name more fully expressing the new aims and ideals of the institute.

Mr. Massey, in proposing the toast of "The Royal Family," paid a tribute to the part the Maoris had played in tho war. He welcomed the coming visit of the, Prince of Wales to the Dominions, when tho welcome to His Highness would be as cordial as that extended to his father.

Lord Bryce, in proposing " The United Empire," said the Empiro was strong because it was elastic. The value of system had been proved during the war, when all parts were so valiant that

none surpassed the others, because all surpassed themselves. He even knew of officials, missionaries, and others who could not serve in the Army in Europe had sent a. quarter of a year's salaries to assist the Imperial cause. The Maharajah of ■ Bekiner said that India had put li million men in the field.