N.Z. LEGION.

Hutt News, Volume 6, Issue 5, 5 July 1933, Page 4

N.Z. LEGION.

The first public meeting in the Hutt held under the .auspices of -the N.Z. Legion, was held in the King George Theatre on Thursday, 22nd inst/ the nfayor (Mr J. W. Andrews) occupying the chair. Mr W. E. Leicester Who accompanied Dr. Begg outlined the aims of .tho Legion and traced ite eteuly history. He spolte of the active part played by women in New Zealand in social activities and appealed for their help an the Legion. He said tl4at the League Was governed by a .Central Council and, Wellington Was (divided into 18 divisions and that so »far 700 ,eentre*s had been, formed (throughout the country.

Dr. Begg who was greeted with loud applause prefaced his remjarks by outlining the basis upon which the move-* •ment was launched. The speaker showy <ed the weaknesses in the present fortnj of government which he roundly crn^ demnecS and claimed that no member ever ri-7jris>tnted ta constituency n» it was impossible for one man to represent 'the vaiious shades of opinion. He said it w;i!i an insult to an honest mtin

to ask 1-im to pledge himself as n,wnb^r o.' parliament. The Legi m <?id net f'lvcur any such action. The N.Z Legion covld offer only the Ward lead of coii^itrctive thought and This was for no personal benefit, but 01117 f.-.r that ,6£ the nation. It offered no "ve'adj-made anil temptingly seived palliative Ho'avert from the p'op'Je the stern necessity of pXu-sonal effort. They were asked to ibecome builders and not analysts. The legion was seeking their co-operation in the solution of pressing national problems, not

their criticism, or Adherence to suggestJ cd solutions already made. It was, iki fact, treating them, as individuals who lia»' some' contribution 'to :ineke, and m»t rjcreiy as those to whom som. tling was thrown tfor criticism, accept'uncc, or rf jiM f .'en '•This i> a reversal of all that you ha\e been accustomed to in pjulicul thought/ Dr Beg? continued, "imt because you and we %md the people \ of N3«v Zealand require a new yolnt of view •on thiese political questions, the | New Zealand Legion is urging it. If lit is visionary, idealistic and impossible to 'ask the people o¥ N"ew Zea- ( land to think widely, daringly and •fearlessly on the matters of their own destiny, we are visionary indeed. But I already the mest&ge of the legion h"a» stirred muny hundreds, nay, thousands, to throw off the 'mental laziness, the laissez-faire, the subservience of moulded and effete though of iby-gone days and to throw themselves into the niovemen't with their whole heart land soul.'' In plain, terms, s?aid Dr. Bogg, the legion laid down a few wide principles, ■adherence to which was necessary in order to sign the pledge oif membership. (These principles were chosen because it, was Considered tlrat within their scope "all practical policy must be developed. The legion member pledged himself to work within 'those principles, which seeinied to it .wide enough to include all men of goodwill who could make soino contribution for the national good. There were no hampering details to exclude uny type of economic thought. Instead tff the -setting up of endless commissions, the Legion asked the people to set themselves up -a$ one great commission, whose order of reference Was:—(l) The best economic arrangement in regard to currency, land, j tariffs, and all vital .matters of that tfature, and (2) the 'best form off administration and Government to express the people's will and supplement it for the people's good. The people had a right to govern themselves, tout they had a duty to see that the gor* ernment was really (by the people and not tby those who would delude the people. No econo.mic principle would be of any aVail unless its administration was as perfect as it "could 'be made.

When the policy was one tff laissezfaire, or leaving tho people alone to work out their own salvation, possibly any sort of government would do. 3>r. Begg concluded. The aim of the reform of Government and the Government mac bine was prominent in the •principles of the Legion. It wa9 not .necessarily an end in itself, but an end ,ou which everything else depended. It •was a tangible goal which could ibe definitely achieved by the united will of the people. '

At the conclusion of the address a number of «fue»tions were answered, and o»n tho motion of Mr H. 6. Teaglo (chairman of the local Centre) Dr Begg was accorded a hearty vote of thank* for is interesting address. This was supported by Mr F. Campbell and Mr W. E. Diokenson.