Page 6 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10509, 10 February 1920, Page 6

THE WELFARE LEAGUE AND A NEW ZEALAND SPIRIT To the Editor "N.Z. Times." Sir,—l hope you trill allow me space for comment upon 'the Welfare League's new policy. The league has definitely tiffercd its services to the public for the purpose of promoting a New Zealand spirit in enterprise, in place of the sectional spirit prevailing at the liresent time; and it proposes to develop this spirit by insisting upon full publio disclosure of the conduct of our national enterprise, and upon control of that enterprise by practical experts. 1£ the 'leaders of tho league are sincere in this policy, and their publicrecord as individuals justifies the belief that they are, a (Treat opportunity is thus provided whereby the public may secure tho voluntary services of 4 a t<dy of able men, with wide end euocetf.ful experience, in our enterprise, capable of leading a popular movement designed to assist the Government. of the day by promoting-, a general understanding- of what is essential to tho conduct of enterprise ■in a. national spirit. Hero is a way to bring into peace enterprise the na'tional spirit that so developed and strengthened our resources for the purpose of war. Tho Prince of Wales tells us ho is coming to New Zealand in the "Digger" spirit. That spirit was expressed for i bv General Russell on his return to Ne /Zealand in the following words: "Tho whole Division has been actuated by a corporate spirit, whioH New Zoaland must foster in the future; with one common aim, united for one object, there is practically nowhere New Zealand may not go." The Prince has in view, therefore-, tho great purpose of promoting among us a corporate spirit of Empire, and just as in a football team the primary duty of eaoh member is 'to organise and develop his own forces, so in this purpose the first duty of our people is to organise ourselves as a national body—trained to the same implicit obedience in tho national purposo that footballers give in their game. ' ~,,-,, If wo take up whole-heartedly this proiiosal of the Welfare League we will bo able to help the Prince in his difficult task by giving him the assurance that wo havo formed in New Zealand a league designed to promote tho "Digger" spirit in national -life by the simple process of lettinc the light into the operation of national enterprise. May I venture to suggest to the leaders of the league that, the most workmanliko course; is for those in each separate occupation to form, in that occupation, a branch of the league and to select from among themselves their most experienced and trusted leaders as delegates to a central body. Only thus may the leaders of the league bo a body of experts having a practical knowlecigo of tho whole national enterprise which consists spielv of tho practical organisation of our pooplo and property in the common aim of supplying efficiently one another's natural needs. It is obviously to tho groat advantage of aJI professional and salaried or wages classes that such a league should bo promoted, and by coming forward and giving support to tho Welfare League these classes can make it their own, and rescue it from dependence upon sectional support. Such a. movement will not hurt capital; on tho contrary it will mako it moro secure, because it will enable tho professional and salaried or wages classes to ascertain tho truth that they own to-day much tho grcalcr portion of the capital in New Zealand. „ „.,„,„,•, F. 0. LWLZIBLL. IH. The Terrace, Wellington.