National Life in Australia 239 



ary composition, in prose and verse. The organ- 

 isation of this annual celebration is carried out 

 in the practical and effective manner that char- 

 acterises the whole management of the society, 

 and certainly points to considerable business 

 ability among its controllers. 



Many of the branches reproduce this fete on a 

 smaller scale, especially those existing in country 

 towns of the second rank. In such places, the 

 association is a centre of social activity, holding 

 debates, concerts, dances, and other functions, 

 contributing largely to the amusements of the 

 little community. The chief of these functions 

 is undoubtedly the competition, which interests 

 the parents and friends who form the audience, 

 as well as the young people who take part in it. 

 Beginning in a modest way in Melbourne this 

 association has now extended its influence 

 throughout Australia, although its chief strong- 

 hold is still in the State of Victoria. Its member- 

 ship is open to both sexes, and while officially 

 denying partisanship with any creed or party, the 

 association itself has become at once a creed and 

 a party. When the proper time came, it was 

 able to render assistance to the cause of Austral- 

 ian unity, a cause reflecting the very spirit of the 

 founders of the society. 



The most serious obstacle to Australian unity 

 was the state rivalry already referred to, and this 

 was only overcome by the expedient of referring 

 the question to the people for settlement. The 



