THE BIG BROTHER . MOVEMENT
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Just now many persons are asking, " What is the Big Brother Movement in Australia ? " This is the answer. It is a scheme—officially sanctioned by the Commonwealth Government—under which every British boy between the ages of fourteen and nineteen on arrival in Australia will be met and welcomed by a " Big Brother." The Big Brother will be morally responsible for the boy from the day of arrival, will giVe him adviee, visit hint, write to him 'dna this parents, and generally take the place of his father and 'mother until the boy is twenty-one.
The Big Brothers are responsible private citizens, repre- sentatives of all that is best in the community. Their efforts are voluntary, non-political, non-sectarian. Now, Sir, try to send a boy to Australia. He is keen to go ; you, let us suppose, are keen to send him. Mother " is the difficulty. Who can blame her ? ' Twelve thousand miles off and no friends ! " Here we have the solution ! A friend awaits her boy ; a link between her and him.
The founder of the movement—Mr. Richard Linton, Australia House—is now in England organizing the whole country into county and district committees. He is a " live wire " of surprising energy and unselfishness. No money is asked for, beyond an annual membership sub- scription of 5s. Mr. Linton wants, and is obtaining, intelligent co-operation.
To those who think that the British boy is the best material for filling up the Empire, and wish to see him—saved from blind-alley occupations in unhealthy surroundings—leading the open-air life of the Australian farmer, I would say :- (1) Send in your name for membership and information to the Secretary, Big Brother Movement, Australia House, Strand.
(2) Join your local branch when it is formed and tell all your friends about it. (8) Send—not a troublesome task—at least one boy annually through this association to Australia.
You will never regret it —I am, Sir, &c., ROBERT WHITE, Brig.-Gen.
Travellers' Club.
[We sincerely hope that there will be a wide response to General White's appeal. The Big Brother Movement goes right to the weak spot, because the dislike of exile, the dislike of leaving friends for lands where there may be no friends, whether this is felt by the boy himself or on his behalf by " Mother," is at the bottom of most of the opposition to ' emigration. Yet the. future for the average boy is in the Dominions. At all events, the future for him there will be easier and better than here. In the Big Brother Movement
everything depends upon getting helpers in Australia and here of the right character. The Movement has one of the t est in General White himselL—En. Simetator.]
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