AIMS AND OBJECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 3

AIMS AND OBJECTS

NEW ZEALAND LEGION

CHRISTCHURCH MEETING

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

Support for the New Zealand Legion was promised by those who attended a large and representative meeting held in Chrsitchurch yesterday, at which Dr. Campbell Begg, the originator of the movement, explained its aims and objects. There were more than eighty people present, including many well-known city business men, farmers from outlying districts, and members of the legion. Mr. S. G. Holland, president of the Christehurch Citizens' Association, was in the chair. Addresses were, given by Dr. Begg and Mr. John Mac Gibbon.

Dr. Begg expressed the opinion that the whole personnel of the present House of Parliament was honest in its endeavours, but continual heckling and worrying of electors prevented, Ministers from putting through legislation in the' form, in which it would lac passed if they had only a broad national viewpoint to consider. The object of the legion was to sweep away the shackles which prevented the legislators, from giving effect to their real intentions. It was absolutely necessary that the function of government in respect to parochial matters should be decentralised so that Cabinet Ministers -should not be worried about the need for a bridge over a. creek or a. boundary fence for a rabbit board.

Mr. S. G. Holland pointed out that under tlio present political system a member of Parliament had^ to be particularly careful if he wished to secure any advancement in his own party, and the consequence was that New Zealand had. bred a team of "political smoogcrs," who had to keep on side with their leaders in order to make th oir future secure.

At tho conclusion of the meeting practically the whole of tho audience signed membership cards.