NATIONAL AIMS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 12

NATIONAL AIMS

NEW ZEALAND LEGION

STATEMENT OF POLICY

SOUND RECONSTRUCTION

MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO ALL

The organisation of the New Zealand Legion is making rapid progress, and at. a meeting of the provisional council in Wellington this week a National Council was elected, and issued a statement reporting progress and announcing the Legion'fc policy. The "gathering was, as the roll-call of'the provisional council shows, representative of all parts of the Dominion, and the official statement blearly sets out the objects for which the Legion stands. The provisional council assembled in "Wellington on Tuesday. . Dr. B. Campbell Begg presided, and, after he had briefly ■welcomed them, the roll call was read as follows: Auckland, Mr. A. St. Clair Brown; Waikato, Messrs. H. D. Caro, D. Seymour, and H. M. Hammond; Taranaki, •Messrs. Irwin, Paris, and B. H. Quil]iam;. Gisborne, Messrs. Nolan, E. B. Black, and Dr. A. L. Singer; "Wanganui, Messrs. W. E. Brown and S. E. McCallum;- Hawke's Bay, Marcus Smith, A. S. Tonkin, J. W. Harding, and J. D. Ormond; .Manawatu,' Messrs. F. J. Nathan, L. D./ Wall, W. G. Black, and C. Hausmann (Feilding); ■ Wairarapa, Messrs. S. L. P. Free and G.vH. Perry; Wellington,: Messrs. J. Mclntosh, H/G. Teagle, C. C. Holmes, and H. G. Bogers; Nelson, Messrs: M. E. P. Airey, \V. V. Eout, N..A. Vercoe, and J. Glasgow; Canterbury, Messrs. J. McGibbon, J. D. Hall, S. G. Holland, and Captain I. Mac Donald; South. Canterbury, Dr. Pea; North Otago, Messrs, B. K. Ireland and P. Milner; Otago,' Messrs. H. L. Paterson and M. Myers; Southland, Mr. "W. Macalister-aud Dr. \V. Pottinger; national executive, "Wellington, Messrs. E. "W. Ackland, "W>. Appleton, Dr. B. Campbeil Begg, W. J. MeEldowney, H. P. 'Mourant, L. Nelson, J. E. V. Sherston, P. Vosseler. Keports were submitted by the delegates of the progress made in all parts of the Dominion in the establishment of the organisation. '. . Dr. Begg gave a short address, after which points in respect to the constitution, rules, and organisation were gone into. ... .. . The .council was in constant session till midnight, resumed at 9 'a.m. yesterday, and completed its deliberations in the afternoon. ' , ' OBJECTS OUTLINED. The National Council was elected, and issued the following preliminary statement for publication:-— The ' organisation of the. Legion throughout the Dominion is prpgressing rapidly, and it is desirable at this stage to give a brief indication of the necessity for the organisation and the general way in which its activities will be directed. . . ■ ■ ." " . . , •Already the Legion numbers withm its ranks supporters of the Eeform, United, and Labour Parties, and representatives of all classes, including men employed on relief, works; One of the latter was a delegate to the Provisional National Council. Any statement that sectional influence is behind the movement, if made, cans be looked on as a deliberate fabrication originating with some , group which considers its.awn interests prejudiced by a national/movement, of all classes of the-people. Its membership is open to everyone, and its ranks include representatives of all .business, professional, and working classes. Such complete representation is necessary if tho movement is to fulfil its purpose.. The Legion considers that: — ' 1. The Dominion is rapidly approaching a political and economic crisis. 2. The. whole effective thought in the Dominion in regard to the vital questions' of national finance, unemployment, and; other basic factors leading towards sound reconstruction, must be mobilised at once in order that an effective solution may be sought. 8. All those who are able to offer any constructive suggestions in regard to these matters should be provided with the means whereby tljeir ideas may be carefully considered,' apart altogether from sectional or political interests. ■ '4f./Lt' is now imperative, in public affairs, that considerations of national welfare should always be paramount. Any attempt of one section or interest to gain advantage at the expense of the others must be sternly opposed. 5. There is no organisation in the Dominion at the present time by which this can' be "effected. . The Legion intends to provide it, and states that:— . ; 6. The primary aim of the Legion is to secure forms of Government, both ' local and general, best suited to the needs of the Dominion, and composed 6f men and women of character and ability, freed from the ' trammels of sectional pressure and actuated solely by considerations of national interest. 7. The inherent defect of' the party system is that all matters are ( considered from the viewpoint, of the voting strength or the influence involved, and members are so hampered by election pledges and' representations that they cannot give unbiased judgment to matters submitted to them. 8. The Legion will.provide the machinery whereby such representations can be made and considered from a national viewpoint. The Legion will also be at the'disposal'of all societies and associations who may wish to use it for the purpose of representations on matters of public import. y . ' 9. The practice of approaching Ministers and members of Parliament in.regard, to these matters has proved pernicious and ineffective, and must bo discontinued. ■ ■ . 10. All Legion members are pledged not to exercise improper pressuro on Ministers or members in any sectional, parochial, or party interests, by deputation or any other means, and aro' expected to discountenance such practices in others. 11. The Legion will co-operate with Parliament in any action it may see fit to take in discountenancing such practices, and will further devote its energies to stemming tho demoralising 'drift towards dependence on State aid in lieu of individual effort and private enterprise. This has been a growing evil over many years, with the result, that State paternalism has undermined the old pioneering spirit of independence. ' 12. The Legion will welcome the corporation of societies and organisations in announcing their. intention to discontinue asking or extracting pledges from members or candidates in Parliament or local bodies. Por tho National Council: A". ST. CLAIB BEOWN, Auckland. J. MACGIBBON, Christchurch. A. L. SINGER, Gisborne. • J. W. HAKDINGE, Waipukurau. F. J. NATHAN,-. Palmerston: North. M. E. P. AIBEY, Nelson. " 8..-H. QUILLIAM, New Plymouth. ■P. MILNEB, Oamaru. ■ H. L. 'PATEBSON, Dunedin. W. MACALISTEB, Invcreargill. J. McINTOSH, Wellington. E. CAMPBELL BEGG, Wellington.