THE NEW ZEALAND LEGION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21978, 13 June 1933, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND LEGION

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The other day I was handed a pamphlet headed “ A Call to Action,” comprising the sayings of Dr Campbell Begg, Mr E. Parry, and other leaders of the New Zealand Legion. I read it with much interest and was much impressed by the high ideals expressed by the speakers, and when I came to the message of the legion summed up in a few words, “Goodwill to all men, servility to none, I thought that here at last was the movement the people were waiting for. But, alas! before I finished reading I encountered this paragraph:^ — “ Pampered In our standard of living,” said Dr Begg, *“ surrounded by luxuries which we have not earned, servile and dependent on that mysterious entity, the Government, we now act like broken army whose morale has vanished.” There was once a man in this country who said that sheeps’ heads and sheeps’ plucks were good enough for the working man. I wonder if Dr Campbell Begg is of the same opinion? “Pampered in our style of living! ” I have seen no evidence of it. We arc not living like Chinese coolies, I admit. Is that how Dr Campbell Begg would have us live? “Surrounded by luxuries which wo have not earned! ” What are these so-called luxuries? Does Dr Begg refer to radios and motor cars? If the worker saves up his few shillings to buy a radio, what business is that of Dr Begg’s? Does Dr Begg mean to insinuate that these trifles —radios, motor cars, etc. —are for the exclusive enjoyment of the idle rich, the money masters Does he mean that the submerged nine-tenths have no right to these things? I am afraid that in a movement that implies class distinctions the worker of this country has nothing to which he can look forward. I am much disappointed in the legion, as I had hoped it would frame a policy calculated to give the worker a more equitable share of what he earns. —I am, etc., X. Macandrew Bay, June 9. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —A letter in your column to-day, signed “Merely Amused,” gives a wrong impression of the New Zealand Legion meeting held at Kurow. The questions referred to were answered not only in the addresses of the speakers, but also at the termination of the speeches. The close attention of the large and interested audience present at that meeting to the case as presented by the speakers, and the conclusive replies given to the questions ashed, must be very disturbing to any opponents of the New Zealand Legion movement. —We are, etc.. New Zealand Legion, . Oamaru Division. Oamaru, June 12. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The letters by "Admirer ” (in your issue of June 7) and “ Real Admirer” (June 12) quite miss the point. We have been trying to make it clear, and we‘ wish now _to emphasise, that the legion has at this stage no particular candidate in view, and alsp that nothing will be done towards making a selection until, when a candidate is required, the elected representatives of the legion can meet and pick their man. In that selection “Admirer” and “Real Admirer,” if they are then members, will have as much say as any other member —and no more.— I am, etc!, > The Secretary, _ Otago Division, New Zealand Legion. June 12.