A COMMON GOAL

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

A COMMON GOAL

DR. BEGG'S ADDRESS

PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS

Addressing-j the delegates to the provisional council of the New Zealand Legion, Dr. E. Campbell Begg said:— "We come together actuated by high resolve and a common goal. We find our native land in distress. In varying degrees have we felt in our own persons tho tragic times that have overtaken our country and the world. Some of us have up till now been fortunate, and the worst buffets of the storm have left us if not unscathed at least able to react to the buffets of fate by bracing ourselves the more with the dctorinination to win through' at all costs. We must, however, if wq have hearts at all be filled with sorrow for the lot of thoao to whom fortune has been less kind, to our brothers and sisters now in dire distress and want, .who live frote day to day not knowing what the morrow may bring; to whom.the world must present its most dreary outlook — without the comforts or even the necessities of life, without prospects and almost without hope. '' Greatly daring we meet together .a band of men from all walks in life and from all parts of New Zealand, determined to strike a blow for our country, venturing to assume the leadership in a movement which wo hope will bring prosperity and happiness once more to the Dominion. Our actions and: deliberations may determine whether,what ■we have attempted will be attempted in vain or whether this meeting will represent a gathering fated to be , recorded in the history of our land where men of goodwill and , determination who had not despaired of their country were able to help their fellow-citi-zens to emerge from the morass of misery and despair into the pleasant paths of happiness and prosperity. 'TOR THE RIGHT." ""We stand for what is right. Wo are the enemies of what is wrong. The task we have set ourselves surpasses almost the reach of our vision. It involves a regeneration in our ' own thought and in that of a nation. Where must we look for strength so that without faltering and without remission we may pursue the course on which we have embarked? ' 'It may be that in the determination of the detailed objects and constitution of the Legion we may differ on many points, but.it is to be hoped that our deliberations will mould for us 'something to which we can all wholeheartedly subscribe. It may be, however, that a majority hero may decide on certain policies and measures to which some of" us cannot conscientiously agree.. I sjjeak to men of, proved integrity, and we must believe that the ideals and motives of everyone here present are as high' as our own. But if after all has been said any of us feei that we cannot give our full and unstinted support to the methods we decide to pursue, he is honour bound to make his position clear and retire from the council. UNITY ESSENTIAL. "We hope and feel that among men earnestly striving for the same end we may without difficulty arrive at unanimity) but the stakes aro too high—the aims, too big, for any, feeling of disunion to exist within bur ranks, or wo shall inevitably fail. "We must therofore make as simple as possible our objects and procedure. Wo must ruthlessly cut . put all irappinga not essential to the fundamental aim. In regard to details, thero will be plenty of room for difference of opinion, but in the essentials thero can be none. "We must fearlessly analyse the weaknesses in similar movements that caused them to fail. "We must not shrink from supplying the necessary strength to win the -battle of fight ag:,iinst wrong;. "We_ must1 face tl'ie 'fact that disruptive: movements may be attempted ■ within our organisation, attempts to swing it' so' ■as to favour • one or other sectipn or interest, and with these we must be prepared to deal. If we have not the strength and courage to do this we shall not succeed; ( Our hardest: task will be possibly to roach agreement in the methods to bring this about, . NO SELFISH INTERESTS. ' "We stand avowedly foursquare against political vacillation and political immorality. We stand against all selfish interests which would try to influence legislature so as to attain their own- ends. . ■ . . "We must bo careful not to- give lip service only. For tho sake of others' interests it may be we must, sacrifice to some extent our own. . "Service, sacrifice, and comradeship must not be words on our lips, but things exemplified in our lives and behaviour. Our ideals are high, and they must remain untarnished. I must touch in this regard on something that most of us, I feel sure, would prefer to keep locked in our own hearts. But if we are to follow the right we must know of some basis, aome motive to make us do so. We. must acknowledge beyond and above our human imperfections some power which alone can give point or reason^ to our endeavours, the divine, spirit, goodness immanent in the universe in which we live. "A LIVING FLAME.*' "In no spirit of arrogance or ambition can we hope to attain our goal but in r-everence and humility and solemn dedication. With us tho work of the Legion must* be no incidental thought for spare moments but a living flame, a motive absorbing all our activities beyond those of our ordinary and necessary avocations, "Our sacrifices to it must be genuine and heartfelt, but our enthusiasm." niust not cloud our wisdom or our judgment. In the spirit of their forefathers the people must carry out tho work themselves. We value the co-operation of all. "Wo ask no favours from those who may occupy the place of power. "Loyal to King and country, with goodwill to all men, with servility to none, without fear of personal consequences, without hope of reward; with humility and determination united in a common brotherhood we must carry out to the end the task to which we have set our hands, patiently unswervingly, undaunted, and unafraid, until with Divine help we shall have accomplished our purpose and New Zealand shall have become a land of happiness and prosperity in ■ whose government every citizen shall be proud to serve. With that spirit gentlemen we shall not fail." •

A public meeting will bo held in the Town Hall, Wellington, at an early date. Further announcements will be made from time to time in regard to the Legion. It invites all men and i women of goodwill who can assist such a movement to volunteer their support. Information may bo obtained by ringing 42-277.