THE WELFARE LEAGUE AND A NEW ZEALAND SPIRIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 121, 16 February 1920, Page 8

THE WELFARE LEAGUE AND A NEW ZEALAND SPIRIT

Sir,—l hopo you will allow me spaca for comment upon the Welfare League's new policv. The league has definitely offered its services to tho public for tlio purpose of promoting a iSpw Zealand spirit in enterprise, in place of the sectional spirit prevailing at tho present time: and it propose* to develop this Buirit by insisting upon full public disclosure of the conduct of our national enterprise, and upon control of that enterprise by practical experts. If the leaders of the loaguo are sincere in this policy, and their public record .is individuals justifies the belief that thev are, a great opportunity w thus provided whereby tho public may secure tho voluntary services of a body of able men, with \vi<)o and successful nxperience in our enterprise, capable of lending a popular movement designated to assist the Government of tho day by promoting a general understanding of what is essential to tho conduct o£ en., teroriso in a national spirit Hern is n way_ to bring into peaco enteruriso the national spirit that 60 developed and strengthened our resources for the purpose!) of war. The l'rince of Wales tell# us lie is coinimr to New Zealand in the "Digger" spirit. That spirit was expressed for lis bv flenernl Russell on his return to New Zealand in the following words: The whole Division' hns been actuated bv a corporate spirit, which New Zealand must foster in the future: with one common aim, united for one object, there is practically nowhere New Zealand nmy not go. Tho l'rince has ill view, therefore, tho great purposo of promoting among us a corporate spirit of Empire, and just as in a football team, the primary duty of each member is to organise and develop his own forces, so in this purpose

the first duty of our people ifl to organise ourselves as a national body—traiutd to the sumo implicit obedience in the national purposo that footballers give in their irarne. ]f wo toko up whole-heartedly this proposal of tho Wnlfaro League wo will be able to help the l'rinco in his difficult task by giving him the assuranco that we have formed in Now Zealand a league designed to promote the "Digger" spirit in national life by tiie eiiuple process of lotting tho light into tho operation of national enterprise. flliiy 1 venture to suggest to the leaders of the league that the most workmanlike courso is for thoso in each separata occupation to form, in that occupation, a branch of tho league, and to select from among themselves their most experienced and trusted leaders na dolegateji to a central body. Only thus may the leaders of _ tho league be a body of experts having a practical knowledge of the whole national enterprise, which consists solely of the practical organisation of our people and property in the common aim of supplying efficiently on« another's natural needs. It is obviously to tho great advantage all professional and salaried or wages tlnsses that such a league should be promoted, and by coming forward and giving support to the 'Welfare League these classes can make it their own andiesouo It from dependency upon sectional support. Such a movement will not hurl: capital, on tho contrary it will make it* inore secure, because it will enable the professional and salaried or wages classes to ascertain the truth that they own to-day much tho greater portion of tho capital in New Zealand.—l am, eot., P. G. DALZIELL. 114 The Torraco, Wellington.