Report of the Forty-Fifth Annual General Meeting. 803 



the most competent of British people in all parts of the world upon the great subject 

 of Imperial Unity in all its aspects. 



The experiment of sending our Secretary to Canada last autumn proved so satis- 

 factory that we have now arranged for him to proceed on a similar mission to South 

 Africa this coming autumn, and we hope to organise a similar expedition to Australasia 

 if and when suitable ambassadors can be found. That, of course, will always be a 

 difficult matter, because going there takes a long time, and Mr. Boose is so useful 

 and so necessary to us that I almost doubt if we could spare him ; nevertheless we 

 do hope to get people willing to go. 



The Institute feels under a deep obligation to Sir Montagu Ommanney for his 

 twenty-three years' valuable services as Honorary Treasurer. Our best thanks are 

 due to him, and to Mr. Littlejohn for accepting the vacant office. 



Our thanks are also due to the whole Staff of the Institute, whose conduct has 

 given every satisfaction. 



It is a matter of deep satisfaction that our membership has increased from 5,608 

 in 1911 to 7,177 in 1912. For this we are indebted to several causes. Firstly, to 

 the real live interest of Lord Grey and his personal influence. Secondly, to the visit 

 of our Secretary, Mr. Boose, to Canada, which had such excellent results. Thirdly, 

 to the individual efforts of the Council and Fellows to gain adherents ; and, lastly, 

 to the undoubted fact that the Institute is in a vigorous condition and claims attention. 

 I do not mean to imply that we should feel content with our present condition, 

 for probably we are only on the threshold of the great work which the Institute is 

 destined to perform. The Council in presenting the Report and Accounts, which 

 I now ask you to adopt, believe that they offer the evidence oc encouraging 

 progress in carrying out the purpose for which the Institute was called into 

 existence. 



Colonel Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence, New Zealand), in seconding the 

 adoption of the Report, said : Coming as I do from the other side of the world, I 

 look upon the work of the Institute with perhaps a keener appreciation than do 

 many of those who live in England. We are separated from the great body of intellec- 

 tual thought which is gathered here from time to time — separated in a sense and 

 yet we do come into touch every now and then through the medium of the Journal 

 and of speeches and papers written by those who take an interest in the Institute. 

 First of all may 1 say that I entirely agree with the mover in respect to Earl C4rey. I 

 am sure his personal influence is having a very great effect on the work of the Institute ; 

 his undoubted energy not only keeps him going but keeps everybody going who 

 comes in contact with him. If he could convert every member into a real live worker, 

 such as he is himself, what could not 7,000 earnest men do for the solution of the 

 Empire problem ? I have been at one or two meetings ; I am sorry 1 have not 

 been able to attend more, but I recall one important paper in particular and a very 

 illuminating debate which took place upon it. My friend Mr, Jebb was one of the 

 speakers. He represents ideas with respect to Empire consolidation which, perhaps, 

 some of us do not agree with, but, after all, the Institute is here to thresh out these 

 problems and we are glad to hear every side of this difficult question. It is only 

 by every man giving us of his best that we shall come to a final and, I hope, presently 

 a sound conclusion on the subject. I would allude to another remark by the mover, 

 that is with regard to the visit of some official member of the Institute to the out- 

 lying portions of the Dominions. Mr. Boose's visit to Canada has already been 

 mentioned. May I suggest that there is quite as much value to be derived from an 



