THE WELFARE LEAGUE.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15044, 11 April 1919, Page 2

THE WELFARE LEAGUE.

PROGRAMME FURTHER EXPLAINED.

A statement regarding the constitution and aims of the recently-formed New Zealand Welfare League was made in Auckland last week by a gentleman who had assisted to form the league, at the conference in Wellington. The dels•gate said that the conference was ati tended by representatives from various centres in the North and' South Islands, and was .chiefly conspicuous for the surprising earnestness of the delegates,, many of whom confessed that, prior to the war, they had taken little or no interest in politics. ,"We are in now,", they said, "not'because we are concerned about any political party. What we are concerned about is the welfare of our country, and we see blue ruin ahead unless the country is roused, to the necessity of making attempt to solve the extraordinary problems' confronting US/ 7' '■._ .' ~ - '; ■■■"-■ The constitution' of the Welfai-e League has already been published, and while its first plank is anti-Bolshevism, the league, says the Auckland delegate, intends also to grapple with such important problems as the relations between Capital and Labour, the absorption of our soldiers into civil life, and other matters of social and econbmic interest. There is also a unanimous desire to 3eal with the issues arising out of the increased cost of living and the all-absorb-ing question of profiteering. The league recognises that these problems are not easy of solution, but they will certainly not be overcome by merely talkine; aibout ;them.^ ..: ••■• ;' . x* :: '.---_. ■ "We have repeatedly been asked," the delegate continued, M Who is to be your leader m the House?" Our answer to that question is that at present we are not concerning ourselves overmuch on this point; our chief object just now t^ to join up alLresponaible electors and to select as our Parliamentary candidates good sound men, who will be capable of dealing with the tremendous problems or reorganisation.; men who realise the futility of meeting the burden of our. huge debt by a policy of restricted output and are not afraid to say so. "It is no time for disunion on the old party hnes. There will be no seeomi ballot at the next poll,.the disunion may give the victory to those noisy and unpatriotic extremists who,,while preaching Bolshevism^ unblushingly assert that they Tire the champions of Labour Personally I am convinced that sane Lafeour ,-ivill not; follow leaders of this sort. But some sections of Labour have real grievances, and unless these grievances are handled wisely and systematically many men may bo driven into the arras of the extremists from sheer desperation J.he Welfare League intends to use-its influence to have these grievances removed, and when bur'organisation-'is completed we will make an honest attempt to get at the source of the discontent which apparently exists amono- nil classes. \

An impression seems to have got abroad that we are.., connected with a particular party, which is being formed by members, of Parliament. „ I wish to say most emphatically thafr we have-a«, connection, nor have we any understanding, with any party in the House. Ihe -league-.'will support the man whom it considers the best candidate in every constituency, provided he will conform to our broad national platform: Anyhow, that is the intention of its. promoters."

Ihe excuse made to the Welligton.l Magistrate by the delondant 'who-wa^! found in an alleged. Chinese ■gamins*l house was, " I am a;widower, with four; ■children to support, and am, not ail gambler," he said.. «I have- bought.V piikapoo ticket from, a Chinese on two occasions. They only cost sixpence each, and I thought it a good'way. to. help support my family. I had^ mai-ked hve or seven of the numbers, on the ticket correctly, and was-told. I- was. entitled to £3 or £3. On going- to get the money on Friday the police arrived at the house just after me." The-Magis-trate informed: the accuseds he- had: just won enough ta pay his fine; but the- defendant said- lie had not' collected the amount.

It is not generally known that the sun shines over. Dunedin for one' hour and two manutes longer, on December 31st than i* does in Auckland, The reverse is the case on June 30th", when it sliiuos .nfty-seven minutes longer m Auckland.: WelUngtori , has twenty-six minutes • more sunshine than Auckland on i)ecember 31st and -twenty-four- min-utes-lass on- Jun© 30th. TMs variation ■$"■ % I?% ¥ ■ one of tiie' masons why tee South \sland is better adapted Sf* N°rth Island for •grain-grbw-mg. Although Dunedin has less sun « ; winter, there .are many more line d--vs ■with a clearer sky than in the north, while the opposite conditions prevail i&ypng the .sminer monflis. .

Rustless steol is a Sheffield invention, cioxu. A local metallurgist, Mr Harry Breirley, author of numerous standard works, was experimenting in armament shops of Lhomas Firth and Sons to find ?,,E! anSA& Prev" enting erosion in guntubes After- some of his experiments he noticed that certain pieces of chrome steel had not suffered from corrosive influences under conditions wnicli would have .rusted ordinary- steel. He followed (in this clue, and what is Known as Firth-Brearley '. stainless steel .was oI effi' UT^ y woit e<3 out and added to bheiheld s metallurgical triumphs. It was applied to mar,u.fa. Q tu.rrng wtlery.