Victoria League Reports a Very Successful Year

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 933, 28 March 1930, Page 4

Victoria League Reports a Very Successful Year

Wide Field of Activities Covered By League Workers ANNUAL MEETING That the Victoria League had enjoyed a year of steady progress was shown at the annual meeting he'd in the lounge of the Lyceum Club last evening. Sir Walter Stringer was in the chair, and Miss Mowbray, the league president, was associated with him. - Sir Walter Stringer read a letter j from Major Bathurst, private and mill- ! tary secretary to liis Excellency the I Governor-General, in which he exj pressed the thanks of their Excellen- | cies to Miss Mowbray and the Victoria j League for the warm message of wel- ! coma they had receivd. A telegram ' was read from Mr. A . O. Bay, private | secretary to Lord Bledisloe, stating J that the Governor-General and Lady i Bledifjloe were pleased to accept the ; oflice of patrons to the legaue, and api predated the request to do so. i The various activities of the league had been well sustained and useful work done, as was shown by the reports of the various committees. The membership' roll now stood at 1,211, of whom 219 are life members; nine members had resigned and 169 new members had been elected. Beep regret was felt at the loss through death of the following members:—Miss Cameron, Br. Cleary, Miss Coates, Mr. John Dawson, Mrs. Hope Lewis, Mrs. S. E. Mortimer, Mr. 1-1. L. C. Mowbray, Mrs. E. K. Munro, Mr. W. M. Passmore, Mr. A. Sutherland, Mr. and Mrs. J. PI. Upton. Mrs. Hope Lewis was the wife of a former president, and from the inception of the league had shown much interest in its working. Travelling cards of membership had been taken out, by 30 league members who visited London, and all who returned spoke most enthusiastically of the entertainment provided them by the Home league. ! Several visitors from Home and j from branches of the league in Australia and New Zealand had been entertained and this was regarded as a very important part of the league With reference tp migration the I league had kept in touch with as many English boys as possible and had sent them books and magazines. Several positions for women who have come out through the Society for the Overseas Settlement of British Women had been found by members of the league. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES The Literature Committee reported a very busy year. An energetic band of helpers met every two weeks either to mend magazines, etc:., or to pack parcels of books, and 10 mending and 12 packing'days were held. Literature was forwarded to 103 settlers, 63 J schools, and 10 English public school boys. In addition, the committee had i forwarded to settlers, schools and I English public school boys books totalling 1,750, magazines 1,344, papers j 1.556, scrap books 432, and calendars 313.

Lectures were given during the year by Mr. J. W. Shaw, ALA., Professor and Airs. Algie, and Mr. W. Boyle, American Consul, Mr. Doric Algie, and the Rev. W. E. Monckton. A Dickens Fellowship evening, under Airs. Kenneth Gordon, was also given and a university student debate under Dr. Andrew.

The Ever-Ready Committee had its usual busy time helping at bazaars, street stalls, bridge parties, book afternoons and giving concert parties, the interest of the members being as enthusiastic as ever.

In response to an appeal by the president for clothing to bo sent to the sufferers from the earthquake, the Sewing Committee had made and sent away two large cases containing about 350 new garments and 850 old ones. Owing to a largo supply being sent from all over New Zealand, the cases were returned and the contents were sent to the backblocks for which numerous grateful letters were received. Since then 140 new garments have been mad© and sent away.

The Girls’ Committee of the Victoria, League reported a most successful year. Its membership numbers 92,#including honorary members, and there is a long waiting list. Aliss Alow bray referred to the loss which the organisation had suffered in the deaths of several members, members standing in silence meanwhile. Salient features of the report were enlarged upon by the speaker and in particular she spoke of the valuable work which was being done in connection with the children’s overseas correspondence.

A specially warm tribute to the work of Miss Nation as secretary was paid by the president and in conclusion she mentioned that this year the Auckland League would be 51 years old. The chairman, Sir Walter Stringer, spoke of the special aim of the Victoria League in “strengthening the cord of kinship” that bound the people of the Dominions to the Homeland. He referred to the wide field of activities covered by the league and spoke very warmly of the splendid enthusiasm and energy of the members and the excellent work they had done in assisting various charitable causes.

Mr. L. S. Rickerby, who seconded the chairman’s motion that the report and balance-sheet be adopted, endorsed Sir Walter Stringer’s remarks. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The election of officers for the forthcoming year resulted as follows: President, Aliss Alowbray: vice-presi-dents, the Hon. G. J. Garland. Alessrs. F* Anderson, P. Luckie, O. Nicholson, Dr. Stride, Alesdames Edgar, F. CarrRollett, P. Luckie, J. Reid, Aliss Morrison; council, Alessi*s. W. Crowther, C. O. Chalmers, H. Goldie, W. A. Harrison, R. Fenton, IT. Fenton, N. Duthie, F. S. Townley, Little, F. Carr-Roliett, Mesdames A. E. Devore, C. Heather, J. B. Alacfarlane, J. Reid, L. S. Rickerby, Alisses AI. Chapman, E. Fenton, K. Keesing, J. Murray, M. Gerrard, A. Slator; auditor. Mr. X’. A. Duthie; lion, solicitor, Air. H. P. Richmond. Orchestral items were played at various intervals and supper brought a pleasantly interesting evening to a close.

Guests of honour at the evening were: Sir AYalter and Lady Stringer, Air. AValter Boyle (American Consul) and Mrs. Boyle, Airs. Burgess, president of the Y 7 ictoria League in New Plymouth, Airs, and Aliss Avery, Airs. AYare, Airs. Dudley Dorman, president of the Auckland Province Federated Institutes, and Aliss Silbur.