NEW ZEALAND LEGION

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND LEGION

MEETING AT HEDGEHOPE. FORMATION OF CENTRE. A meeting of the New Zealand Legion was held at Hedgehope on Wednesday evening and, notwithstanding the inclement weather, there was an attendance of about 45. The chairman, Mr C. O. Bridgeman, in introducing the speakers, said that the people should take a greater interest in the affairs of the country and endeavour to find out where the system of Government had failed then seek to remedy the defects and help any government which might be in power. Mr W. Macalister said he thought the chairman had struck the right note in his opening remarks. “The Legion,” he said, “provides the opportunity to make things better in New Zealand and the people have to make an effort to do this. The work of the Legion at present is an educative one to educate the people to a sense of their responsibilities.” The speaker stated that the organization was a great national movement aimed at organizing the whole of the people of New Zealand on a broad democratic basis to secure for the country a more enlightened, more efficient and a less extravagant form of Government, and in his opinion the section of the community to whom this movement should make the greatest appeal was the working class. The Legion, it was said, was an idealistic movement and this was so, because any great movement such as that should have ideals and have behind it a spiritual force. Thinking politically, nationally and honestly was the spirit of the Legion. After quoting some of the abuses in the party system, Mr Macalister said that the question in New Zealand to-day was were we going to have a National Government or were we going on with the old party system. The Legion aimed to abolish this system and to secure the best men in New Zealand as our representatives in Parliament. At election times the people must think politically, but they must, think nationally. The speaker then explained the system of the organization throughout the country and outlined the objects of the Legion. Dr. Pottinger said that the Legion differed radically from a party organization which offered electorates bribes with their own money. The remedy which the Legion offered was not one that would not appeal to all. The Legion aimed at arousing interest in politics throughout the country and to enlighten the people so that they would be able to think about a better form of government which should take the place of the present unsatisfactory party system. Mr J. Graham moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers for their interesting addresses. Mr Bridgeman moved a resolution that a centre of the Legion be formed at Hedgehope. This was seconded by Mr T. Hanning and carried unanimously. Mr Bridgeman was appointed convener. At the close of the meeting ths majority "of those present enrolled as members. A successful meeting of the local members of the Legion was held at Woodlands on Wednesday evening. Addresses were delivered by Messrs F. G, Hall-Jones and W. Grieve, of Invercargill, on the necessity for and the aims and objects of, the Legion. A centre had already been constituted at Woodlands and the meeting appointed a committee, with Mr Bell as convener.