THE EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 14

THE EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE

i OUTLINE OF ITS HIGH AIMS ' BETTER MORAL RELATIONS IN THE STATE A meeting of tlio Enpire .Service League was hold in tlio Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. The chairman (the Hon. J. G. W. Aitkcn, M.L.C.), in opening the meeting, stated that his occupancy of tlio chairmanship of the league was tomewhat a form with him, as lio really had not ;the time to devoto to the work. That had been done by the eecretary (Captain Barclay) and Sir. James llacintush. Ho trusted, however, that the league had some sort of foundation in Wellington. The secretary would give an outline of what the league stood for. ;

Captain Barclay then read the following report:— "It is generally known that the league was called into being in .Wellington- on April lli, 1917. The form of crusado was determined, and a leaflet was issued and circulated, together with the pamphlet 'What Freedom Means.' Tlio objects of tho leaguo are so obviously sound in principle and definite in terms that there has been no necessity to canvass in any form. The need for service of tho kind aimed at bv tho league is not disputed. Tlio methods aro quito another matter, and thero is tho opportunity for 'individual thought, initiative, and a eerious weighing of tlio difficulties that crop up at every turn—difficulties due to condition of national social life long existent and almost looked upon as permanent. From various internal causM and the

I force of puiblio education tho time was clearly not far distant, in tlio opinion of a thinking section of any and every civilised nation, when the demand for a revision of tho_ social conditions of life would become'instant. "The great war of this day has brought this fact vividlr before all sections of the community. Eolations of individuals with all corporate institutions, sources of wealth, and industries aro being severely tested. New responsibilities are being defined. So-called established usages were being qnestioined. A general revision ie active in many minds—it is n. state of flros. A new mould will evolve. "Surely, then, thero is tho opportunity for very useful work in the direction of bridging chasms, healing -wounds, and cultivating sympathy. Misunderstandings exist in plenty, but they cannot bo transformed into 'understandings' "by order. We arc in a stato of relation needing that element which wo hope to find viz., sympathy. Catch-words are not euiflicient— their meanings are often clouded, if not distorted. Patient work, friendly contact, and a soarch for the personal link, that 'is the work of tho leaguo, as tho word implies, lhis is but an amplification of the object ot tho leaguo as set forth in tho opening paragraph defining a national crusade. Bearing this in mind, it will be obvious (o anyone that tho work of tho league is not at present of a nature that can bo shown in columns of statistics. Ihe figures to dato aro as follow:—Applica-* tioiis for membership to date, GO; pamphlets and leaflets distributed, HMO approximately. "The infcrCTico can for Ihn present be accepted that tlio readers of the pamphlet aro studying the matter therein contained. That interest in tbo movement is genuine can be taken as proved from tiie'fact that application for membership nro coming in from different districts in (ho South Island, and inquiries as to the modo of procedure to form local branches of tho leaguo. "As wo wero quito prepared lo expect, inconsequent points of objection linvo been raised, more gossip in wuno instances, statements mado noteworthy of your seriouSVeonsideration. Tho importiint idea (o Reizo is that the league would ho false- to its namo if it .was a 'party' institution. . "Wo can ask tho question now with Bnmo effect—Why should wo not bn like tho Romans in tho bravo .days of old, so well sung by Macaulay? "Then nono wne for a parly, Then all wero for tho Stale, Then tho groat man helped tho poor, And tho poor man loved tho great." Tho leaguo is bent on a crusado of reform, but it is no "Reform Party.' fto Einpiro movoment can bo narrowed down to any parly view. A reform party is a misnomer, :i contradiction in' terms. v "It is quilo obvious thero must bo \tioliticiil bearing in all questions of good government. Government can, and wo trust will, bo assisted by tho work of tbo Empire Service League. Tho psychological aspect of tho mind of tho ntitiuu, or (ho Stato, is not a political question, but a fact apart from <iny system "f government. Tho Government Umft howls that fact will be wise. •"Jiv considering tho circumstances of tho njuny toilers in contrast to tho few who f.visscss or control the meanfi of ''-oifncVion, it will bo recognised that will' B, * evr c ■ tor B narlu, *- ccs the niv .y-vok for security. Thero is the .' i tbo industrial problem as we snn "it t(wl-i v - lfc is a K ro,Tth » «' developmpnt from "t, He oldor olxlor - Actlon and Motion Lave to h th .° ° f if vclopinent for Historic.! ly, projects have pass. ,d / nto "*»*««» ™ tho course of time. have chapued. "The element of tro^ Wo IS that there are peoplo whoso hobb/ a Pl H!a , rs to b ? an.inevitable desire to as / a [ apilrt ns possiblo what may bo ta."?'? 1, - ] f ™] of illustration, tho industri; \, "" es - n is utterly out of harmony wiiw the. age in which we find ourselves. ■ I " ]s ]! j a scientific age. It is an electric 1 "'i' 0low the simile-tho electric i *> Ws are negativo and positive. Bring ti. ~?,"" posites into touch and you get Hah "*• e moral is clear. "These considerations prompt the lowing question: Can anything be do ,0 to help the frco flow of tho fertilising stream of a better moral relation between those antagonistic forces now active in tho State?" (Applause.} Mr. W. Bnrr, after complimenting Captain Barclay on his very ablo and interesting report,' moved its adoption. In seconding tho adoption of .the report Mr. S. Spragg said that he did not know if tho position could havo beou better stated than it had been done by Captain Barclay. 'In his opinion it could not be. There was certainly great' work to be done, and whether they were prepared to do it depended on themselves. If they were not prepared to do it, they and everyone were going to suffer. If the motive power behind workers of all classes and stations in life was not going to bo directed in the proper way, ho believed that there would bo nothing but wicked suppression, and the world would become a rat-pit instead of a civilised community. The report was adopted.

A telegram was received from Mr Weatherly, at Wanenniii, stating that a meeting had been held •there. n nd a branch of the league formed. (Applause.) llie chairman moved: "That a commitlee bo appointed to consider and fonnii lato a plan of campaign—(a) with special reference to ascertaining thoso diroctions in which practical work can be nn (lortiikcn by tho league; and (b) how far the- co-operation of existing organisations can be invited, the committee to report at tho next meeting." Captain Barclay seconded (ho motion which was adopted. ' Tho committee set up consist , ; of Moors. W. Barr, J. W. A. Marchant Mrs. Grace Neill, and Captain Barclay ' It was resolved: "That a committe'o bo appointed to keep m touch with members of the Legislature with refcrenco to any contemplated legislation or amendments to existing laws affecting the work of the league." The committee set up consisted of Messrs. J. Strauchan, M. J. Kilgour \V J.' , . Han-aml, ami Captain Barclay. Sneaking generally, Captain Barclay will that he found in every walk of life that much could be effected by free talks to elucidate what lay at the root of. the trouble, and ho personally admitted that he had pained a. great deal of information in tho course of conversation with this or that person. One gentleman hail told him that what wag wanted wns a cmle of ethics for universal adoption. Tlicre vnn no mistake hero Hint a binding elhic was needed. That was an echo from the Japanese. With thorn, from the- llinpcrpr down, .to >fhe hardeet-Trorkcd

i'm.in in (hn land, Ihcro was one binding ethic, really an underlying (riit.li, which was in ell'oct that no nuin was freo to do as ho pleased, vhicli. translated, meant that lliey sill hiul their responsibilities. Ft was the historical negation of responsibility which had brought about tho lire-sent'international chaos. Everyone liad no imicli suspicion of Ins brother that lie held that ho had no brother at all. (Applause-.) Subsequent to the meeting, meetings of the committees wero held...