EMPIRE MOVEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 7

EMPIRE MOVEMENT

OVERSEAS LEAGUE OPENS NEW CLUBROOMS VISITOR WELCOMED "The British Commonwealth of Nations is only bound together by ties of sentiment and the comradeship of racial kinship, and we have something tangible in the Overseas League/’ said Mr. Eric Rice, assistant-secretary to ihe Headquarters of the Overseas League. at the opening of the new club room of the Auckland branch of the League in the Arts Society Hall, Kitchener Street, last evening. Dr. C. E. Maguire, president of the Auckland branch, was in the chair. In introducing Mr. Rice, Or. Maguire explained the value of this and kindred organisations in drawing the various parts of the Empire together in common thought and sentiment. The meeting promised a prosperous revival of the league in Auckland, which could give a lead to the whole of New Zealand. The president read an apology for the absence of the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates. "I want to congratulate you in the *plendid way you have- achieved this step in having a clubroom of your own. These are the first premises we own in New Zealand. In the future this is going to be a centre where members and visitors from all parts of the Dominion can meet,” said Mr. Rice, in commending the enterrpise and foresight by which the branch now had its own premises. "In the last few years we have been able to send out many immigrants to this Dominion who have been able to settle and meet with success,” continued the visitor. "Another great movement in which the league is interested is the question of British trade. Everybody at Home has been bucking up to support a thing like this which will link up the various parts of the Empire.” In spile of the tragedies of war, nothing else in the world had ever caused such a gathering of the clans as the last war. Then the spirit of Empire co-operation was strongest. Many pepole in overseas Dominions who could not take any active part in the war had contributed more than £1,000,000 through the Overseas League, said Mr. Rice. •’And now our club building in London, constructed at a cost of £ 50,000, is as much yours as ours, as the league’s branches all oVer the world have contributed to it” Miss J. A. Mowbray, president of the Auckland branch of the Victoria League, welcomed Mr. Rico as an official of a similar organisation. Miss Mowbray said it was exceptionally interesting to be there, because her league had been asked to help the Overseas League when it was getting hs start in Auckland. v After Mr. AV. D. Ross, president of Le Hamilton branch, had spoken. Dr. Maguire presented Mr. Rice with a Sold key with which to open the new room.