THE EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3351, 5 June 1918, Page 7

THE EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE.

CONFERENCE. OF DELEGATES. A conference of delegates from the branches of the Empire Service League in tho Dominion was held at Wellington on tae 23rd. The report of the hon. secretary (Mr Percival Wnnerby) dealt with tho gradual development of the movement and of tho work done during tho past 12 months, besides presenting the progress made, notwithstanding tho peculiar difficulties that had been met with, 'the report, in so far as it relates to the relations between Capital and Labour, is published elsewhere. The following is an abstract of its other features: —Tho progress of tha Empire Service movement during tho past 12 months has been considerable, and has been commented on in England, Canada, and Australia. Six branches of tiie league have been established in New Zealand. Although the membership is as yet less than a thousand, mere members are not everything. What the league aims at is quality of service as distinguished from quantity. This is amplified in tho report and fooussed in the statement that " the State —which is the people themselves —cannot stand, or progress, unless its citizens unselfishly devote themselves to its service." Precisely the same tost princinlo applies to the Empire Service League, which might be described a.s " tho State or Empire in miniature. As a corollary the -question has a personal bearing —" What am I doing for the Empire Service League?" The league's objects have been clearly defined by the Otago branch as follows: (1) To unite more thoroughly for the defence of tiie Empire and for the extension of the freedom we have inherited. (2) To mould an educational policy based on tho principle of national service, as against individual or class aggrandisement. (3) To influence public opinion on the danger to society of permitting poverty, waste, and idleness, so that it will reprobate misuse of wealth on the one hand, and habits tending to pauperism on the other. (4) To influence opinion among employers and employees in favour ot closer and more sympathetic relations.

The report dealt mainly with the second and fourth of these objects. The matter of education was emphasised in the report as one of the principal objects of the league. " An educational policy based on the principle of national service as against individual or class aggrandisement. . . . The adult mind may be hard to change, but that does not mean it is impossible to change it." The question of education implied a public campaign, a national crusade, to create a new public opinion—a crusade " supported by the thought and active power of that large section of the people who are to-day yearning for better things, led by men and women who believe in their cause and will act as such and not as sheep." The report dealt with many aspects of the educational problem, and had some tonic words touching the type of men and women teachers, and an earnest plea for better remuneration and a higher social status. It should never be forgot- n that "the future of a nation depends to an enormous extent on the training of its young/' and that this fact necessarily makes the teaching profession " one of the most, if not the most, important of all professions." The report concluded with valuable suggestions regarding the future of the league and some consequential chanires in the method and scope of its activities.

The first conference of the Empire Service League was opened in Wellington on Thursday last, when delegates attended from Wellington, Dunedin, Mawke's Bay,' Amberley, Nelson, Pelorus Sound, and Eketahuna, and we're welcomed by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke, C.M.G.). MiMason Chambers (Havelock North) was elected to the chair. .

After receiving the report of the organiser (Mr Percival Witherby), the conference spent the day in settling the lines of the organisation. A constitution was adopted which sets out the aims and objects of the league. The ideal at which the league aims, states the constitution, is national unity, a closer and more sympathetic comradeship and co-operation between all classes and citizens, and between all peoples and countries of the Empire, combined with the freedom of each of such peoples to manage its own affaire and to develop its own individuality, the privilege of sef-government being extended to every community within the Empire that proves capable of exorcising it. The league endeavours to approach the ideal of a commonwealth founded on the principle of the service of each for all, by inculcating in the people from childhood upwards the principle of duty, the responsibility of citizenship, the sanctity of the plighted word, and love of justice. Every movement of a non-party and nnsectarian character that has for its object the improvement of the character and condition of the people, whether from the spiritual, mental, physical, or material standpoint, and that renders them moro efficient in the discharge of their responsibilities to their State, their Empire, and the world at large, will have the league's hearty support. The leaguo seeks to improve and develop our national system of education, to help in the reorganisation of our social an dimfustrial system so as to ameliorate the relations between the different classes and sections of reorganisation of our social and industrial harmony instead of strife, to combat materialism which so taints our individual and national life, and to purify our political bystom bv securing the return to Parliament and- to public bodies generally of men of high character, wide vision, experience, and moral courage ; by ensuring that the country shall bo governed on broad, democratic, and statesmanlike lines, instead of being made the football of party; by having the great departments of State and tho great public offices no longer treated as rewards for service.* rendered to a political party, but administered and filled by the most suitable men in the community; and by the recognition on tho part of all leaders of the body politic that democratic government can only survive if its citizens realise and fulfil their duty to serve tho Stato even unto death.

Among the subjects "which the league, under its constitution, proposes to concentrate its energies are the following: Citizenship and tho service of the State jn all its branches; good government of the Empire in general, of our own country in particular, and of each of the latter's districts and institutions; the education of

tho peopie; social and industrial reorgani sat ion.

Tho lines upon which tho league may be directed to oil'ect its purpose are: The endeavour by each member in his everyday life to give practical effect to the principle of free service of each for all; the formation of branches aijd groups for study and exchange of idea::; literary propaganda, including articles in the newspapers # and magazines, public addresses and meetings, formation of libraries and tho spt.eiai_v.ncouragement in our education institutions of the spirit of public service: the recognition of tho responsibilities involved in the government of tho Empire, and the true meaning of democracy. Officers were elected as follow: —Chairman, Mi - Mason Chambers; secretary-trea-surer, Mr fevcJval Witherby; assistant secretary, Captain Barclay (Wellington); members of executive —Miss Mabel ilodge and Mr J. Phillips (Hastings), Dr Colquhoun (Dunedin), Mr H. F. von Ilaast (Wellington), Mr 11. D. Fell (Nelson and Bounds), and Mr G. T.- Booth (Christchurch), The delegate from Amberlcy branch (Mrs Hotchkin) gave an encouraging report on tho work of that branch, showing that under the auspices of the Empire Service League all classes in the community had co-operated in patriotic effort, " affording," as the conference resolution of thanks stated, "an example of personal patriotic service of tho nature of which the league is proud." Motions were- adopted instructing the executive to secure all official reports bearing on education and industrial problems from England, and tho importance of interesting university students in the work of the leaguo was mentioned. Reports of an encouraging nature in regard to the financing of the league's proposed activities were presented by tho various delegates, who, in their first day's- meeting, placed the new organisation on a good business foundation. The conference concluded on Friday morning, when a number of interesting addresses were delivered.

The conference confirmed the constitution as amended by the executive, and also approved of plans for, organisation and. the raising of funds. Dr Colquhoun (Dunedin) gave an address upon the aims and objects of the league, suggesting that tho keynote of Empire service was conveyed in a phrase of Mr Lloyd, George, "terrible realities." Wo had lived our lives as if tho foundations of society could never be shaken, but there had arisen a nation which deliberately laid its plaii3 upon the reverse of the axiom that righteousness oxalteth a nation. Hero we were faced with the terrible reality, beside which tho troubles of politicians and the disputes ot capital and labour were trivial. The Empire Service League was putting forward in a new shape the ideal, old as the hills, of cooperation, friendliness, and mutual helpfulness.

' A lengthy and important paper on " Education," by Mr S. R. Dickinson, M.A., ol St. Andrew's College, Chri&tclmrch, was read by Miss Hodge, and the thanks of the conference voted to the writer, whose paper was handed to the Literary Committee. Mr Charles E. Wheeler was invited to address the conference on the attitude of Labour to the league's ideals. He described the two principal schools of thought and action in tho Labour world, showed how " round table" methods had worked successfully in preserving harmony in tho railway service, and told of the success of the Workers' Educational Association owing to tho anxiety of working men to educate themselves to become good citizens. If the close co-operation of the working classes was desired by tho league, it should take hold of some important social question, and fearlessly apply its ideals to it, otherwise Labour would take up a passive attitude towards the organisation. A spirited discussion followed, during which several members expressed approval of tho plea for practical application of the league's ideals, when it was certain that unanimity of opinion could be obtained. Votes of thanks to tho chairman, Mr Witherby, and others who had assisted in making the proceedings a success were carried with acclimation, and the chairman declared that the first conference of the league had been exceedingly interesting and valuable. \ WELLINGTON, May 23. Tlie following officers were elected: — Chairman, Mr "Mason Chambers; secretary and treasurer, Mr Percival Witherby; assistant secretary, Captain Barclay (Wellington) ; members of the executive —Miss Mabel Hodge and Mrs J. Phillips (Hastings), Dr Colquhoun (Dunedin). Messrs H. F von Haast (Wellington), R, D. Fell (Nelson and Sounds), G. T. Booth (Christchurch).