LEGION’S AIMS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 76, 11 March 1933, Page 7

LEGION’S AIMS

DUTIES OF DEMOCRACY UNITS IN GOVERNMENT. DR. CAMPBELL BEGG EXPLAINS Wellington, March 11. Interviewed yesterday, Dr. Campbell Begg gave some further details in regard to the organisation known as the New Zealand Legion. In a previous statement it was reported that the country was being sounded to see whether a movement along the lines suggested would meet with general favour, and would be likely to fulfil a useful purpose in the community to-day.

Dr. Begg said that first of all in order to clear up misunderstandings it was desirable that the public should know exactly how the movement originated. He had stated previously that he was not the promoter of the movement, and this was strictly true. There were no promoters of the movement properly so called. He had certainly taken the leading part in shaping the movement after he had consulted representative groups. He had discussed with others at various times the general situation ever since June, 1931, when he had stated publicly his belief that New Zealand was past the brink of the most serious crisis of its history. Optimistic references to the “corner having been turned” and similar statements notwithstanding he had never swerved from that point of view and had considered how and when the national consciousness could be aroused to the danger which threatened the Dominion, nnd how it could be moulded to take effective action.

It was only when the publishing of the last budget had brought a full realisation of the seriousness of the position to the people throughout the country that it wai considered that any movement based on a general appeal could succeed, and he then convened a meeting of tanners and city men to put certain views before them for their | consideration. At the time there was | in Wellington a conference in connection with a new political party which ! was forming, and certain of the leading j men in that movement were invited to the meeting in order that their views I might be heard. NATIONAL NON-PARTY. The opinion of the meeting was di- j vided. The representatives of the po- I litical party in question gave their views and there were some strong advocates for taking action along the lines they suggested. He himself was firmly convinced that nothing effective could be done along such lines* and he was strongly opposed to the idea. Finally the meeting appointed a committee to consider a national movement of some kind. The members of this committee by becoming members committed themselves to nothing, but finally adopted the views for a national nonparty movement along the lines suggested and rejected the idea of supporting any new political party. The committee suggested certain modifications of the original plan he had suggested. but adopted it in the main. He (Dr. Begg) was then asked to sound the country with a view to the establishment of this national movement, and the committee disbanded. He himself was prepared to take full responsibility for any further action, and no member of the original meeting or committee had acted in any capacity except at his request. “Many meetings,’’ Dr. Begg continued, “have been held throughout New Zealand, and tentative groups formed in numerous centres to await the complete survey of the Dominion.

"This has now been practically completed, and in view of the enthusiastic manner with which the proposal has been received, it has been decided to call together a National Council representative of the main districts throughout the country to mould further the ideas contained in the movement, and definitely to put into being the New Zealand Legion. That is the stage that has been reached. OVERWHELMING OPINION. “There was an overwhelming opinion that something along the lines suggest, ed was required, and the fact that adherence to the views of the Legion was not incompatible with affiliation with any existing political party was one of the strongest points in its favour. One of the great difficulties met with, how. ever, was that the minds of the people of the country had been so accustomed to think in a political groove that the Legion itself was conceived in some quarters as a political party, and m others as some such movement as a New Guard or unconstitufional organisation.

“It is difficult, however, to distinguish between what is the genuine belief of people with regard to the Legion, and what has been instilled into their minds by those enemies of it whose own particular interest, either politically or financially, might be considered to be unfavourably affected by a national movement of this kind. The public must now be very much on their guard against various types of propaganda which are insidiously working against the Legion, and would equally work against any movement for the people as a whole where sectional interests considered themselves jeopardised. "It may be said at the outset that the main aim of the Legion is to teach the people their responsibility as units in a Democratic Government. “Hitherto they have been content- to exercise the governmental function which is their right merely by giving a vote on certain occasions. ‘’They have thrown certain representatives into the Parliamentary machine and have then returned to looking after their own affairs, and have neither taken the time or given the study to the question of Government for which each of them if he is to leniain a unit of democracy, is responsible. “The Legion maintains that the Parliamentarv machine and the methods of Government work exactly as the individual units of the people make them, and deplores the fact that now that pockets are being affected and hard times are at the door of everyone the reaction is to criticise and att..ck legislators, the Government, rival mti ids of their own, and in general to fill the country with sectional strife, mutual distrust, and disunion at the very time when unity of action is most necessary. “The Legion emphatically deprecates

hysterical criticism of those who are doing their best to exercise the functions of Government within the imperfect machinery of Parliament the imperfections of which are entirely due to the people themselves. The prevailing emotion throughout Neiv Zealand at the present time verges on the hysterical. Individuals, fearful for their own financial security and for the future, and having lost faith in the Governmental machine for which they themselves are responsible, are wasting their time and their efforts in widening the rift between town and counbetween employer and employee, and between importer and manufactur. er. The Legion says to the people in effect:—

"Hitherto you have been content to reap'the benefits of Democracy and have failed to take the responsibilities. Unless now you are prepared to realise these responsibilities Democracy itself, and the stability of Government -resting upon it, is in danger.

“In order to canalise the best thought throughout the country the first step has been to select a nucleus of men of undoubted ability, intelligence, sanity of outlook, and integrity throughout the country, and by means of its centre and divisional organisation, and finally its National Council, to bring together a body of nationallyminded individuals who can consider the problems of the country from this aspect and not from any sectional or parochial point of view. This in itself is likely to have a considerable effect in restoring morale by directing the thought fif individuals into productive channels. EDUCATIVE MOVEMENT. “Starting from this basis, an educative movement will be taken in hand to tell the electors in the various districts the plain truth that their present situation is the result of their demanding all kinds of pampering, and directing their votes in favour of those who would offer them the most. Now they must realise that only persona] and individual service, with considerable self-sffcrifice in relation to the previous standards, can be effective in overcoming the serious crisjs which has overtaken the country. “The enemies of the movement have tried to prejudice it in various ways, mostly along the well-defined track of inspiring lying canards in regard to it. The public would do well to discredit completely anything of this nature. It is a well-known method in such matters as these for unscrupulous people to approach certain persons and affirm categorically that adverse interests are behind a movement, and then to go to these interests and the other side with the same affirmation.

“In the hands of unscrupulous men of a certain type, some of whom are always abroad, this particularly procedure of attack may cause serious concern among those who are not aware of the well-worn method. It is not suggested that respectable interests, political or otherwise, would tolerate such tactics if they knew of them.

“It has further been said that the movement is disruptive and would aim at weakening the existing Government in order to fulfil its ends. It ha s no ends which could be fulfilled by such methods, an woul certainly do nothing to weaken any stabilising power actually in control.

"Its attitude is non-party, and its purpose is to assist and encourage and stimulate what is best in our public life.

“One of its primary objects is to remove the fetters which have bound the Parliamentary machine oVer so many years, and which threaten its efficiency mainly by the intense pressure put upon Ministers and members, not only through deputations but from the constituencies. This pressure prevents them acting untrammelled. To those who know the inner workings of the political machine this point of view needs no elaboration.” INTEREST OF WOMEN. Dr. Begg stated that this preliminary notice was desirable in order that the public should be warned against misrepresentation. It must be 'understood that the Legion would not be definitely formed with full constitution, rules, etc., until the National Council had decided them. The public could rest assured that they would be taken into the confidence of the Legion, as every step was developde, and after careful- consideration he could not see what possible objection any nationallyminded individual in the country, whether in the House or not, could take to the movement. Indeed, the Legion anticipated, and had secured, active support from all sides. The classifying of this movement as a new political party was partially due to honest misunderstanding and partially due to an attempt to discredit it on the part of those whose interests, personal or political, would be adversely affected by it. The women’s section of the Legion was very carefully considered, and the advice of the public-spirited women was being enlisted as to the best and most effective organisation. As the first suggestion of the movement was made only a month ago, the elaboration of its aims and organisation was as yet in the rough. It could, however, be emphatically stated that any statement that any sectional interest is behind it is a calculated and deliberate falsehood.

As it has been suggested in some quarters that the name Legion implied a militaristic organisation, it is considered desirable to explain briefly why the name was chosen. The Legion claims no originality iu expressing its ideals, but it does claim that the country is now ready if properly guided to implement these ideals. its organisation is designed to that end, and is based on tho essential soundness of the bulk of our population. The present crisis not only necessitates such a movement, but has caused the correct spirit in the people to enable it to succeed.