DELEGATES REPORT ON “NO MORE WAR” WORK

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19270, 6 January 1931, Page 9

DELEGATES REPORT ON “NO MORE WAR” WORK

CONFERENCE HEARS OF PROGRESS IN N.Z.

The first general conference of the New Zealand No More War Movement commenced at Christchurch yesterday. Delegates from the Napier, Palmerston North, Waitaki and Dunedin branches were present, as well as from Christchurch. The president, Mr N. M. Bell, addressed the meeting on the general work of the conference, and expressed a hope that it would give special emphasis to three points;—(l) Individual resistance to all war; (2) general and total disarmament; (3) self government for those subject nations which desired it, especially India and Samoa. He then unveiled a portrait of the late Mr iV W. Page, the founder and first secretary of the movement in New Zealand. The secretary outlined the activities of the New Zealand No "More War Movement since its inception three years ago. He referred in feeling terms to the great loss the. society had sustained in the deaths of its treasurer, Mr Sharpe, and its secretary, Mr A. W. Page. The delegates gave the reports of their branches, which were of an encouraging nature. The membership had largely increased, and very successful work was being done. The Napier branch had paid special attention to peace correspondence in the newspapers, in which great interest had been taken. A visitor from Samoa gave an account of the Samoan troubles and of Tamasese’s efforts to keep peace between his people and the New Zealanders. His last message to his people was that he had shed his blood to keep peace in Samoa, and that they must not let it be vain. The conference passed the following, resolution: —“ This meeting expresses its sympathy with the Samoan people in their struggle for independence, and pledges itself to support it in all pacific efforts made to secure it.”