THE LEGION

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 19, 22 July 1933, Page 14

THE LEGION

SESSION OF COUNCIL

BUSINESS CONCLUDED

DE. BEGG EXPLAINS

The National Council of the New Zealand Legion has concluded its threeday session. Tho conference took place in the Accountants' Chambers, Johnston Street. There were present somo forty delegates, including three ladies, from all parts of Now Zealand.

The conference was in session from 9.30 a.m. till 11 at night on Wednesday and Thursday, and completed its work at 6 p.m. yesterday.

Dr. K. Campbell Begg, in welcoming the delegates to Wellington, said that tho work of the council would be of the utmost importance. As the delegates knew, a large amount of details, information, and suggested lines of Government reform had been in the hands of the Legion centres throughout New Zealand for somo time- Tho intensive consideration that had been given to the subject had been evinced by the various remits received, and they were fortunate in having among the centres considering these questions men who were -well known as specially qualified to give an opinion on the difficult question of the science of government. It would be impossible, with the time at their disposal, to attempt to cover too large a field. It was their duty, following the principles of the Legion, to recommend nothing merely because it might tickle the imagination of certain sections of the public. They must give way to no catch-cries. For example, in considering the reduction of members in the House, all factors must be taken into consideration.

REDUCTION OF PARLIAMENT,

There was a strong feeling that there ■was safety in numbers and that hidden influences would not be able to effect their purpose so well with a large number of members. On the other hand, it was impossible for a House beyond a certain number to deliberate effectively as a body on all questions. The mere cost of the extra numbers was a bagatelle. The public must distinguish the cost of Parliamentary procedure which was involved in the retention of forms which had long outlived any usefullness they ever had. For example, the Address-in-Reply debate might have had some point in days when an extensive Press did not enablo every member of the House to give the. public his views on questions of general interest, as could now be done long before the member was on the floor of the House. The conference must seriously consider all these forms which had grown up and liad not kept pace with external conditions. One of the most interesting propositions which would bo considered would bo a means, by which safety of numbers could be preserved without interfering with the principle of effective deliberation. For example, if the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives were both elective bodies, and thb strength was in the proportion of 1 to 2, it would bo seen that by extending the principle of combined sittings, no measure would be passed into law except on the majority vote of the same number of elected members as at present. At the same time, during the process of deliberation, the numbers would be divided so as to enable effective deliberation to take place. He gavo this merely as an example of how apparently incompatible factors could be overcome.

OBJECT OP ISSUING POLICY.

They must always bear in mind that they were not putting out a policy or plan in order to. secure adherents, but only to find something which was composed on the sound philosophy of government. All their decisions would be referred back again to tho divisions and centres which had already discussed them, but they had enpugh material already hero to be able to make public the general principles on which they might decide. Thero must, however, be flexibility in regard to every one of these, so that when the final report in regard to them was given to the public thero would still bo room for alteration, if further information came to light, or arguments which were effective in support of such alteration.

TIME FOR CONSIDERATION.

In regard to the details, he need hardly say that a Bill to implement the changes would be a long measure, and there would still be ample opportunity for months of consideration in order to implement definitely any new system of government.

It seemed probable to him that a good deal of the matter in regard to electoral reform and local body would have to be deferred. They must allow ample time for the consideration of the serious economic situation and of the various replies and remits from divisions which had been initiated in the centres or had come as a criticism of material from headquarters. Urgent as the situation was, they must realise that they had no power except to bring their recommendations before the public, and that thoreforo everything should bo thoroughly tested as far as possible before it was adopted as the considered thought of the Legion.

Even when adopted it was not by any means binding on members of the Legion. They must realise that tho support they wero going to give to candidates was based on tho quality of the candidate and his attitudo towards the reform of government. Apart from that they wero independent men, and no test in regard to their political or economic theories would bar them if otherwise qualified from getting the support of the Legion.

A number of propositions would be before them, and ho thought that the National Council, would select the best of these, refer them to centres for immediate consideration, and possibly publish them in the Press. Tho democratic nature of tho movement would be- maintained, and the public would have to realise that plans which wore published, although being considered a priori and worthy of the closest attention, could not bo looked upon as the final thought, let alone tho policy of the movement. Ho said that the principle had been laid down that every recommendation to the centres should practically have been the subject of full dress debate, with a barrister as it were briefed for tho other side. It was easy to formulate theories and plans and then enthuso over them, and easier still, unfortunately, to carry a part of the unthinking public with them in favour of such plans, but they must resist that tendency with all their power. They had had the advantage of various leagues and parties having brought down plans either by deputation to Ministers and in their policies. They must discuss these with unprejudiced and earnest consideration, and if they came to the conclusion that they were effective, must support them regardless of their origin. This was the spirit in which their deliberations must begin and in which they must end. Tho movement had boon placed on a high piano of idealism and had established its bona fides, and tho public

would demand that it should not dcvi' ate or depart from its trust.

Tho official statement of the Legion's policy as drafted by the conference appears on page 5.

DR. BEGG TO SPEAK AT STOKES

VALLEY.

Dr. Campbell Begg will give an address at the Hall, Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt, this evening, when the plans of tho Legion will bo fully explained.