THE NEW ZEALAND LEGION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21911, 21 September 1934, Page 10

THE NEW ZEALAND LEGION

The New Zealand Legion, as a phenomenon in the public life of the Dominion, seems to be at the parting of the ways. The Dunedin executive has resigned in a body on the ground that the legion has so far departed from its original objective of the reform of national and local government, especially by elimination of the party system, that it proposes to enter the lists at the next general election as a party itself. This is the interpretation Dunedin has put on the decision reached at the legion conference in July to "promote and support" candidates for Parliament. It is difficult to construe the decision otherwise. When the legion was formed, various descriptions of its complexion and objectives were heard. It was accused of being Fascist in nature, an inevitable charge, which was vigorously repudiated. A good proportion of its declared objectives appeared excellent in tone and motive, if somewhat vaguely defined. One of its most decided declarations was of enmity to the party system as exemplified by contemporary political life in New Zealand. Such an attitude was bound to attract considerable sympathy. It is always easy to awaken a chorus of support by an indictment of party government, but when suggestions for a practicable alternative are asked, the chorus is apt to bo replaced by silence. The inevitability of party in the present stage of political evolution, and probably for many stages to come, is well exemplified hy the virtual transformation of the legion into a political party. It is becoming what it was supposed to be about to destroy. There is no reason why it should not develop into a party. There is no legal or moral bar to the founding of new political parties—as many of them as can be found supporters. Whether the New Zealand Legion takes the step or not is wholly for those in control of its policy to decide. But by doing so it is bound to create divisions such as that reported from Dunedin. It attracted considerable support on the understanding that it had no association with political parties, would, in fact, hold itself scrupulously aloof from them. Departing from such an attitude is bound to cost it the support so gained.