NEW ZEALAND LEGION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 129, 3 June 1933, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND LEGION

MEETING AT LEVIN THE COMMUNIST PARTY A public meeting under the auspices of the Palmcrston North division of the New Zealand Legion was held in the Regent Theatre at Levin last night. The Mayor (Mr. Goldsmith) occupied the chair. Among ;tlie speakers were Mr. A. W. Free, of' Wellington, Mr. H. B. Free, of Palmerston North, and the national president (Dr. K. Campbell Begg). The large audience of about 400 received the addresses enthusiastically and with frequent applause. A nuniber of questions were answered. A provisional committee o£ the Levin centre was formed at the eon- ° Dr Campbell Begg, speaking of the various political movements at present operating in the country, made a reference to the origin, formation, and principles pt the three parties at present existing in the House—Keform, United, and-Labour. He referred 'also to the international Communistic movement. He deplored the confusion in the minds of the public m regard to the relation between the Labour Party and the latter group. He referred with approval to a recent article appearing in a Labour newspaper, in which it was stated that it was to' the everlasting disgrace ot certain organisations in New Zealand who claim to be interested in the welfare of the workers that they-had subjected the Labour movement in the Dominion, -which, was based on completely democratic standards to the .most-malicious and treacherous attempts'to thwart its endeavours to ameliorate the condition of tho wageearners. He tiid not refer, said Dr. Begg to those who might in theory be inclined to Communist views, and indeed o-n some of the economic committees in th« Legion, which invited the presentation of 3.11 forms of thought both from Legion members and those" who were not, were to Uie found those who had such leanings. He spoke, however, in terms of the stronj^st condemnation of those who had pledged themselves to the activities and put themselves under the control of an internaticmal group in Moscow, whose avowed principles were to destroy nationalism, religion, and family life. There were thousands cif workers, indeed the majority, to whom family life and religious freedom were sacred things. The international Communist party despised political action; and advocated definitely that it was only by civi 1 war, revolution, and the.suppression of the bourgeois that they could attain their goal. The chief obstacle to the su< cess of thenplan was the Labour movement, which maintained the idea of constitutional action, nationalism, and the sacrednesa of religious freedom and famU.y life. The instructions of the Communist Party throughout the.world were tf > penetrate and try to take control of the v nions, so as to undermine the leaders of th« i constitutional Labour Party. The latter, therefore, had very serious responsibilitu as towards the thousands of workers who gave their faith to it If in order to i secure votes or through ignorance of its re al purpose members of the Labour Party were inclined to temporise with this int* :rnational group, they incurred a very so rious responsibility, and were in danger <of betraying thenown cause. , ~ Dr. Begg again referre d to the grandiose idea of the importance of the people and administration of Nefr Zealand in the world scheme, which "■]) ermitted large and costly delegations to be sent overseas, and stated that the numba .-s and cost of such delegations were out q f all proportion to the relative important > of the country and to any good which i they could possibly effect. It was time f hat an end was put to such fruitless ex; penditure, especially when all the finaua ial resources of the country should be m obilised to meet the urgent distress whiei i existed. He stated tha^ co -ordinated schemes in regard to a form of government for JSew Zealand which wou Id be simple, far less expensive, and far t iiore efficient were circulating in the diffii jrent divisions, and he had no doubt that- after the next meeting of the National' Qc mncil definite proposals would be made, ffl.ul made public in this respect. \ ■ ■ . , He considered tl lat the whole question ot electorates and Ijtilance of representation of the different ;i nterests must be taken into account, as tveil as the.simplification of the machinery; of central and local government before "piecemeal suggestions in regard to the reij notion in personnel were given effect. He agreed that the question of monetary control and currency, as well as land tenure, was a vital problem, but not the subject on whif ;h definite announcements could be made until the machinery of the Legion, which, offered a platform and a voice to every* >ne who had constructive thought on siur :h matters, had been given reasonable tin* j to function. He said tha*; it had a certain aspect of frim humour • to him when writers to the 'ress suggests 1 that there was some money power behind the movement, when they had to scrap* ■ from day to day to meet current expel ises. The Legion would only receive donati one when these were made entirely u'ncoi .ditionally and without any suggestion ti .iat the donor expected to re-ceive-any <j uid pro quo. The pledge of members in regard to self-sacrifice on financial matter s was being put to the test. It wouljl s< ion be seen whether those who had signed. the card meant what they had signed in this respect. Subscriptions which were urgently required would have a double : value when they were of a size which re* illy involved a sacrifice in regard to -the standard of living and the standard of pleasure which Legion members had assumed was their right before they were prepared to contribute to the nat ional welfare movement. Dr. Bigg concluded by urging his hearers to cow drier whether the Legion offered them ill wider scope for public service than any M milar political or social organisation with which they were connected, and if the y felt it did not, to carry out the ideals, of service for the people faithfully in tin a party or organisation with which they preferred to remain. A vote of thanks to the speakers was carri ed with acclamation, and n number of U lose present signed the cards of, membere hip. ■