THE AIMS OF THE LEGION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19622, 17 October 1933, Page 11

THE AIMS OF THE LEGION.

inci rvAivio '—'A a iitTo the Editor of “ The Tlmaru Herald " Sir, —Your correspondent “Nota Bene” continues to hurl invective at the New Zealand Legion, and in your issue of the 11th inst., criticises Dr. Begg’s immigration scheme. I do not propose to deal with the scheme but would point out to “Nota Bene” that the scheme is a thought for the future, and worthy of careful examination, and exploration so that New Zealand may be ready and prepared to act when the tide turns, and our present unemployed are again absorbed in useful work. Now, sir, in reply to “Nota Bene’s” previous letter criticising the Legion, I would at the outset state that the letter was a gross misrepresentation of the aims, and ideals of the Legion. His letter leads me to believe that he is not honest in his criticism, and is merely playing to the gallery. What are the principal matters dealt with in his long letter? He commences by wondering who the notable “Notabilis” is. Why should this cause him so much concern? Then he rambles on with a lot of nonsense about nationalism and dictatorships. I thought I made it clear to him in my last letter that the policy of the Legion was directly opposed to a dictatorship. Evidentl. my explanation was n'-'t simple enough for the clever “Nota Bene,” so I will endeavour in this letter to clarify the position. He prates a lot of ridiculous nonsense in an effort to prove that the Legion approves of a dictatorship, and in doing so puts the wonderful, and oft repeated argument, that the Legion in common with Hitlerism and Mussolinism has study circles. “A Daniel come to judgment! Yea. a Daniel!” Why study circles are the basis of any movement, and none but a lunatic would suggest that there wnas anything wrong with study circles. Every New Zealand citizen has the opportunity of attending many study circles, church study circles for spiritual uplift, educational study circles for mental nourishment and business study circles for the extension of commercial knowiedge. Perhaps “Nota Bene” in his great conceit of himself

imagines he cannot add to his meagre store of knowledge. I would commend to him the following quotation from Tennyson, “And in me there dwells no greatness, save it be some far off touch of greatness to know well I am not great.” “Nota Bene" suggests that the Legion is like the Pharisee, and boasts of its attainments. Not so. Although the Legion is enterprising, it is also modest. Although the Legion’s membership is growing rapidly and is composed of intelligent workers, leading educationists, professional and business men and women, banded together with a desire to save their country, and help their fellow men, “Nota Bene” suggests that it is composed of minds which have fallen to the blackest bottom and that it has no brains. "Nota Bene" insists that the Legion has no policy, and I will endeavour to once again explain the policy of the Legion, and in doing so would welcome constructive criticism, but not the vain repetition of his vapourings on dictatorships, etc. The Legion has a definite policy. Its policy is “to secure a more efficient Government, central and local, and a government based on national, not sectional interests.” A great deal of misunderstanding is abroad regarding this policy, and “Nota Bene" and other critics in an endeavour to discredit the Legion suggest that it means a dictatorship. Quite the reverse. Parliament under the present party system, is dictated to by a small section of the House, under the sway of the actingPrime Minister, who himself is invested with extraordinary powers. The Legion desires for New Zealand a Parliament of say fifty members instead of eighty as at present, tinder the Legion's system, every' representative would be free and untrammelled, and would have equal rights and privileges. The Ministers would be selected by ballot on the proportional system, from the whole of Parliament, and not as at present by the leader of the strongest party in the House, and from one section only. Parliament would then be a miniature of the people and the Cabinet a miniature of Parliament. Candidates for the House of Representatives or a local body would not be asked to pledge themselves to vote for any particular policy or proposal, but would be at liberty to discuss matters in a general way and give their views. Every member of the Legion who is a member of the House of Representatives would consider himself or herself a member of a deliberative body, considering national questions, and not an advocate for the needs of a special district. The business of Parliament would then be conducted in the same manner as that of any board, borough council, or other local body. Bills would be brought down, debated, and after having passed the various readings would be voted on, not on a party basis, but by every member registering his or her vote as the conscience directed. I have endeavoured to elucidate some of the ideals of the Legion, and would conclude by saying that the Legion does not blame past or present Governments, nor does it malign present members of Parliament, for the muddle the country is in to-day, but rather blames the party system which encouraged candidates to ride into power on extravagant promises, and once there forced them to use every endeavour to hold the good will of their constituencies, by giving much that should have been withheld.—l am, etc.. NOTABILIS. Timaru, October 16.