NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3448, 13 April 1920, Page 8

NATIONAL DEFENCE LEAGUE

WHITE NEW ZEALAND POLICY. (Fbgm Oub" Own Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, April 7. It is officially announced that at a wellattended meeting held in Wellington some days ago, it was decided to re-establish the National Defence League of New Zealand, which ceased to exist on the introduction of compulsory defensive training eight years ago, ' and to place the league on a permanent footing with a view to educating the people of the dominion on the necessity for maintaining a sound system of defence. The objects of the league are plainly set out in the constitution and rules, copies of which are now available. In the constitution it is provided : " The National Defence League of New Zealand shall be non-party political, except in so far as it will oppose any political party which aims at the weakening of the National Defence Forces of New Zea-. land, would dispense with the compulsory training system, or would in any way impair the efficiency of our Defence Forces. "No professionally paid soldier in the employ of the Defence Department or any other professionally paid member of his Majesty's Naval, Military, or Air Services can be, under any circumstances whatever, an officer of the league or any of its branches, and the same shall apply regarding any shareholder in any ammunition manufacturing company and its officials. " The league shall not, under any circumstances whatever, interfere directly or indirectly with any industrial disputes." The sp3c:'fic objects of the league are given as under: — "To maintain a .White New Zealand; to secure the immunity of the country from invasion; to educate the people of the country upon such measures of defence as may be considered necessary. In the attainment of these objects the league specifically lays it down as its policy that it is not desired to convert the manhood of this country into soldiers, but purely to ensure that every man who is capable of bearing arms is given sufficient military training to enable him to obey the highest duty of citizenship by being able adequately to assist to protect his country should the occasion arise. In other words, the platform of the league sets forth that the New Zealander is a oitizen, and only becomes a soldier when he is required for the defence of his country." Tho Provisional General Council has been elected as follows:—President, Majorgeneral Stir A. H. Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G.: vice-presidents, Mr J. P. Firth, Mrs M. H. Chat-field; members —Lieuten-ant-colonel G. Mitchell, D. 5.0., M.P., Lieutenant-colonel J. B. Elliott, M.D., Lieutenants H. T, Marshall, M.C., and W. Perry, tho Rev. G. Knowles-Smith, Messrs J. P. Luke, 0.M.G., M.P., H. F. Ton Haast, T. Ward, and Mesdames J. P. Luke, K. Preston, O. Earlo, and A. R. Atkinson; hon. general secretary, Mr Ernest E. Jion. treasurer, Mr A. 0. Bretherton.