WHAT IS THE WELFARE LEAGUE?

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15317, 4 March 1920, Page 2

WHAT IS THE WELFARE LEAGUE?

STATEMENT OF I'm PRINCIPLES

ITS WORK BEING- RECOGNISED.

(Contributed.) It would appear that wrong impressions exist in the minds of a number of people respecting the New" Zealand Welfare League, its objects and its work. Inquiries from various quarters have led the National Executive to draft a statement ot: its position in which it says: "The W elf are League is simply an organisation formed by a number of responsible citizens who have seen the great necessity for reconstruction after the war, and. are making a practical effort to grapple with some of the important problems of our time." The League is not" a political party, nor does it aim at being such. It is not associated with any of the political parties, i Reform, Liberal onLabour. It is not an ephemeral body 'but has come to stay as iong as the need for reconstructive thought, criticism and work is required. It is not in the least bound to the Employers' Federation or Associations, and will as freely criticise the employers as any others, where the common welfare is concerned. The League is open to all citizens who agree with its principles and wish to assist in its work; whilst it is gratifying to find that the work is being appreciated by the interest manifested in various quarters. The official statement of the League's principles is here presented:— (].) The League is the only national organisation in the Dominion which is non-party and non-sectarian, and which is not organised for the protection or furtherance of any sectional interests. (2) It aims at securing the greatest measure of common welfare for the people individually and collectively. (3) It exists in order to organise the men and women who desire sound progressive government of all tho -Dominion's affairs, independent of class and party distinctions. (4) It favours a policy of constant revision of the existing conditions of society with the object of eliminating what is evil, unjust and harmful, and of preserving what is right and helpful for the general welfare. (5) It opposes the extremes of revolutionism and conservatism as being detrimental to the best interests of the State. (6) It supports the legitimate rights and claims of the worker and the salaried classes as expressed in terms of human betterment. (7) II seeks to assist in the education of public opinion on questions of social science and the political and industrial problems of the day. (8) It will act as a publicity department for the dissemination of useful information bearing upon the health and well being of children, the relationship of employers and employees, the organising of production and distribution, the regulation of consumption, cost of government, systems, organisation and methods of control in the interests of the welfare and happiness of the people. (9) It will promote the selection of suitable and responsible persons as candidates for Parliament and other public positions, and support these candidates solely on the ground of the probable value of their public service and without regard to party, class or sectional interests. (10) it will encourage the selection of persons having special knowledge or experience for the purpose of assisting in the settlement of particular problems of political, industrial or social administration. (11) It will assist wherever possible towards bringing about a better understanding between Capital and Labour !by affirming tho need for closer co-opera-tion, the exercise of mutual forbearance and the recognition by each of the essential needs and responsibilities attaching to the other. , (12) It will readily join forces with i other bodies having similar purposes' and objects to attain. i