TO PREVENT WAR

Southland Times, Issue 19897, 16 June 1926, Page 3

TO PREVENT WAR

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION. PROPOSAL TO FORM LOCAL BRANCH DISCUSSED. REV. TOOKER ADDRESSES AN ENTHUSLATIC MEETING. With a view to bringing before the public of Invercargill the aims and objects of a League of Nations Union, a meeting was convened and addressed by the Rev. C. J. Tocker in the YJM.C.A. buildings last evening. There was a fair attendance. Mr George Cruickshank was voted to the chair. Mr Tocker said that the object of calling the meeting was to discuss among a group of sympathisers the proposed formation of a League of Nations Union in Invercargill, to determine to form a branch, and to arrange for a public meeting to be held on which occasion he thought that Professor Fisher, Dominion president of the League of Nations Union, could be. induced to come down from Dimedin and lecture on the League of Nations, its aims, objects, and methods. Mr Tocker, continuing, said that the distinction between the League of Nations and the League of Nations Union must not be confused. “We shall be a body of men and women whose aim it shall be to spread accurate information on the subjects covered by the League of Nations. We must go back and realise that the League of Nations is public opinion—the same as any Government which can go no farther than public opinion. The League of Nations cannot progress in its functioning unless it is publicly informed on the matter that comes before it.” With reference to national and international problems Mr Tocker stated that the calling of public opinion to such matters would be a splendid move. “What we want to do in Invercargill is to arouse and inform persons to organise public opinion and to create in the public mind an atmosphere that will be favourably accepted by the League of Nations. The movement was originally started in Dunedin,” said Mr Tocker, “and what has been done there has been to carry a resolution determining to set up a League of Nations Union branch.” Mr Cruickshank said that he hoped that the proposed union would be duly formed. He also added that he hoped it would not share the fate of so many similar bodies which had at one time or another been enthusiastically started in Invercargill but had later died down. Mr W. Denham moved the formation of a branch of the League of Nations Union in Invercargill with a view to furthering the establishment of world peace. This motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Judge M. Gilfedder, who was also present, spoke at length on the functions of a local branch and endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers. The matter of convening a public meeting at a later date, to bring the aims and objects before a larger body of people, was left in the hands of the Revs. C. J. Tocker, J. A. Lush and Messrs R. N. Todd, G. Cruickshank, W. Denham, T. Hide and P. Gilfedder.