UNITY OF PEOPLE.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 511, 2 March 1933, Page 1

UNITY OF PEOPLE.

COUNTRY AND TOWN.

National Movement Launched. Last week a movement was launched at Christchurch with the view to securing the unity of the whole country to meet a national crisis. Dr. Campbell Begg, of Wellington, who was present at the meeting, interviewed by a representative of the Wellington Evening Post, said:— All Interests Represented. “ At a meeting at which all interests were represented, certain proposals were tentatively put forward and became the subject of discussion,” said Dr. Begg. “ The object of these proposals was simply and purely the obliteration of all sectional discord in the Dominion between town and country, and between employer and employee, in order to unite all the people of New Zealand to meet the national crisis which seemed to be approaching. “ As a result of these proposals it was decided to sound the opinion of the country in order to see whether an organisation on these lines was desirable. It was expected that if the movement were successful, it would secure a membership of 400,000 men and women, representing all shades of responsible political opinion. No distinction is made in its membership. All parties are eligible. It aims at opposing any unconstitutional action. Tentative Proposals. “ While at the present time the country is being sounded and opinions from all sides taken as to the desirability of such an organisation, all rules and proposals are tentative. The objects put forward for the organisation until it comes into definite being are as follows: “ The legion would represent an emergency movement to meet a national crisis. It aims at organising the whole people of New Zealand for the safety and security of the Dominion. It proposes by means of the organisation and directed voting power of the people themselves to secure a Government composed of men and women of integrity and intellect, freed from the trammels of sectional pressure, and actuated solely by the motive of patriotic effort for the sake of the country. Its sole aim is more efficient government, centrally and locally, and government based on national and not sectional interests. Its pledge is ‘ Loyalty to the King, the British Empire, and the New Zealand Constitution.’ ” “ Rules and Constitution.”

What purports to be the “ rules and constitution ” of the new legion has received some publicity. According to Dr. Begg no credence should be attached to this document in the sense suggested. No constitution or rules can be in existence until the legion is actually formed and its council meets. Several tentative proposals, modified by subsequent proposals, have been put before various people, and it is apparently one of these preliminary sheets that has been issued for publication. The only rules of the legion binding upon members, Dr. Begg said, are the four objects already published. Membership is entirely provisional and dependent upon it being decided to go on with the organisation. The alleged rules have not been accepted or subscribed to by anybody, nor are they the rules of the organisation. “ There is no doubt,” he added, “ that sectional interests will be very active to oppose this national movement, and as nobody was authorised to hand any document over for publication this probably represents an attempt in that direction.”