IGNORING THE LEAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 4

IGNORING THE LEAGUE.

If Mr. Massey had eimply said that New Zealand could not afford to l>e represented on the International Labour Bureau at Geneva that has been set up under the Peace Treaty as a kind of annex to the League of Natione, we should have thought more of the attempt he made yesterday to justify New Zealand's abstention. When he' explained, however, that "New Zealand's Labour legislation was co far in advance of that of the older countries that there would be very little to be gained -by sending representatives to the conferences," he took up an attitude that was meant to tie lofty, but was really absurd. We suspect that Mr. Maeaey's idea of tjhe gulf that separates New Zealand from "leaser breeds without the taw" is exaggerated, but even if New Zealand were a vSri■table Utopia in the matter" of industrial betterment that would be no excuse for not sending someone to represent New Zealand on this international organisation. If we arc co superior here, we might give backward countries the l>enefit of our wisdom and experience. Britain w far ahead of Japan, but she docs not hold aloof oil that account. Our readers may remember that we commented on the fact that the New Zealand Government ignored the first International Labour Conference held at Washington. We do not remember that either then or subsequently did Mr. Maesey or any of his Ministers show any interest in this very important international movement, although as a member of the League of Nations New Zealand is a member of the organisation. But Mr. Maseey takes little interest in the League iteelf, and we fear that the real reason why New Zealand has taken no part in the work of the International Labour Office is that he is indifferent to all such move- ! ments.