NEW ZEALAND LEGION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND LEGION

DEVELOPMENT AT DUNEDIN

COMMENT BY DR. BEGG

"A VERY SMALL RIPPLE" [BV TEI.EGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] - WELLINGTON. Thursday When the report regarding the resignation of the Dunedin executive of the Xew Zealand Legion was referred to Dr. Campbell Bcgg, leader of the legion, he said it was a little misleading. The report stated that the Dunedin executive had resigned owing to a divergence of opinion and aims between it and the central executive. Further, that there was dissatisfaction in the south owing to the feeling that the legion was departing from the original ideal that it would be a nonparty body and was prepared to enter the field as a political party.

Dr. Begg said there certainly had been a few dissatisfied members on the Dunedin executive who had done excellent work in the past, but had been somewhat inactive of late. The election of a new executive was due in the ordinary course of events and the incident could be considered as a very small ripple on the surface of the^ movement. He was amused at the prominence it had received and the party colour of the paper in which it was first published

It showed that one of the parties at least was getting anxious, continued Dr. Bcgg. The idea that the legion was getting away from its first aims was clever, but untrue. Talk was easier than action, however, and when it came to a decision the old party allegiances died hard. NO DISSENSION IN RANKS NEW EXECUTIVE'S REPLY [by telegraph—own correspondent] DUNEDIN, Thursday A reply is made by the provisional executive of the New Zealand Legion in Dunedin to the report published this morning suggesting that the resignation of the former executive indicated the existence of a widening gap in the ranks of the legion on questions of policy. In a letter to the press the idea "of a rift in the lute is scouted.

The letter states: —"A majority, not all, of the members of the Dunedin executive disagreed "with the adoption of certain resolutions passed at the last conference of the legion, and chose, as a method of expressing their disagreement, to resign from the executive. As the re-appointment of the executive was, in any case, due, their action simply amounts to not seeking re-elec-tion. These gentlemen have not resigned from the legion, nor expressed anv disagreement with its aims. •' The view they have expressed is their own,' and not necessarily that of the Otago .division, and the honesty of their is appreciated. It is one of the primary aims of the legion to encourage discussion on political and economic subjects. It is not in accordance with its spirit to attempt to prosent an artificial anpearance of unanimity. but it is united on fundamental principles, and there is certainly no question of a 'widening gap' in its ranks."