NEW ZEALAND LEGION.

Southland Times, Issue 22009, 8 May 1933, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND LEGION.

To the Editor.

Sir.—A considerable portion of the effort of those who are engaged in organizing the New Zealand Legion on its broad-based foundation of the people is consumed in meeting all kinds of cock-and-bull-story criticisms some of which are no doubt honestly entertained while others are palpably fictions. To the latter class belongs the story told in “Brer Rabbit’s” letter which appeared in the Times of Saturday as

to the origin of the Legion including the statement that “there is a possibility of the whole thing being taken out of the hands of Dr Campbell Begg and controlled' by the reactionary capitalistic administration at present in power in this country.” The best answer to this criticism is a paragraph in the message from the special correspondent in Wellington of a contemporary of yours. It appeared on Friday last. More About the Legion.

For the time being more is being heard about the New Zealand Legion and Dr Campbell Begg from the newspapers than from the platforms, and the good doctor will not be affronted by the repetition of one or two of the pictures that have been made of him. ‘Dr Campbell Begg’ we are told ‘is not a wealthy man. He is a surgeon of the very highest standing and is most devoted to his profession; so much so that he periodically visits England and the Continent to keep up to date in his profession, and he has spent a considerable amount of money on these trips. He is the son of a Presbyterian minister and was born in Dunedin fortyseven years ago, having spent between three and four of these years in service during the Great War.’ As a, public speaker the doctor has a placid, undemonstrative delivery which would not appeal to the average elector or the auctioneer. Birth of the Legion. The germ of the Legion, according to a reliable authority, was conceived in the mind of Dr Begg in a plan to form a national organization to meet the situation created by a disastrous earthquake. ‘From this idea’ it is said ‘developed the Legion as we now see it Despite the prating of the knowalls, there is no big money in the Legion’s coffers. The few who are receiving remuneration for clerical work are being paid little more than a pittance and there is no money to pay for an organizer. These are facts. Just how long the Legion will carry on under such shortened sail is problematical. Moneyed men are joining up, and as soon as confidence is established funds will not be lacking. On the other hand, at the first sign of evanescence supporters will drop off like leaves in autumn. Then it is to be feared the cost of the undertaking will fall mainly on the shoulders of the good doctor. I have to thank you for your explanatory note to “Brer Rabbit’s” letter, which is quite right. The Legion is in its infancy. The work of explaining the clamant need for such an organization and its aims and objects is proceeding apace. While the membership, though growing with extraordinary rapidity, is comparatively small it would he clearly wrong to formulate a definite policy of reform which later adherents to the Legion might not approve. When the Legion has reached maturity and has a membership of four or five hundred thousand, that, in my opinion, will be the time to decide definitely how the defects and abuses of our present system of government are to be remedied. The Southland Division of the Legion has its headquarters in Temple Chambers, Esk street, where the secretary will be glad to supply to inquirers full information about the Legion and whatever literature is so far availI able.—l am etc., W. MACALISTER.