OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1446, 31 July 1933, Page 4

OTHER PAPERS’ OPINIONS.

NEW ZEALAND LEGION. Though the mass mind may work in peculiar ways at times it will generally reflect individual opinions if those opinions are not masked and convictions compromised. The individual who says that human nature' will throw the spanner into the works is either claiming that his

own standards are higher than those of his fellows, or admitting that he and his fellows have high standards but lack the courage to live up to them. The Legion challenges this lack of courage. It believes that the mass of the people have a higher ideal and it proposes to give a lead in putting this ideal into operation as a practical working method. Even with powerful educative influences at work and the people urged by distress to seek reform, a change of thought cannot be looked for in a day. Yet we believe that the people can be persuaded that change is necessary, and if the people are persuaded, the old leaders must either fall into line or fall out. The Legion is turning a searchlight of new thought upon old ways, and the people have the opportunity of seeing clearly the bonds which have held them. —Wellington Evening Post.

The alarm of the New Zealand Legion, expressed in a conference resolution, at the statement that Parliament when called together will consider the Address-in-Reply, has some justification. Those who have sat through the unutterable boredom of a full-dress debate on the Address-in-Reply, and who have fretted vainly against the waste of time that many of the speeches involve, will have a bond of sympathy with the Legion. ... In

the same resolution the Legion indicated the duty of the Government to have all proposed legislation ready for discussion before calling Parliament together. If it can impress the Government with the importance of such preparation it will have performed a valuable service and saved the country considerable expense. A repetition of the delays caused by the Government’s tardiness in this respect last session is as unthinkable as it is .unnecessary. —Christchurch Press.