SOUND DEFENCE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5881, 8 April 1920, Page 3

SOUND DEFENCE

NATIONAL LEAGUE FORMED

WHITE NEW ZEALAND POLICY

IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSALS

(Special)

WELLINGTON, this day

It is officially announced that at a well-atitended meeting held iiin Wellington some days ago, it was decided tb re-

establish the National Defence League of New Zeala.nd, which ceased to.exist on the ..V.itroduction of compulsory defensive training eight years ago, and to place the league oiii a permanent footing with a view to educating the people o* the country on the necessity for nia.vtitaii'iiimg a sound system of defence. I

OPPOSED TO MILITARISM. The members oi' ttos league, who are civilians, only, arc strongly 'opposed to thn introduction of aUy spirit a" aggressive militarism in this country, and as far as the league 'is concerned have specially provided against tOiis in the co.i.st.ltution, which feists on ttio

supremacy of the civilian with civilian ideas. On the other hand, particularly,! in view of reccint events, they are strongly of opii'nicu that Now Zealand cannot afford to slacken off iin matters of dc- [ fence, -ajnd thait 'i'f the people of New [ , Zealand are to maintain their privileges I ■ B.nd ideals they must be prepared to defend them adequately should tlie occa-1 .' sion arise. ( "No professionally paid soldier in the | employ of the Defence Department or j any other professionally paid member of

His Majesty's Naval, Military, or Air | Services can be. under a,ny N ch*cumsita'acos whatever, an officer of the league or any j of its braii.ch.es, and the same shall apply regarding any shareholder iui any 'ammunition manufacturing compainy ! and its officials. ' "The league shall not, under any c-ir- ' cumstances whaitever, interfem directly!. or indirectly with any industrial dis- ' putes." I, ! LEAGUE'S. POLICY DEFINED. :

The specific objects of the league are (given as under:— 'To maintain a White New Zealand;

to secure the immunity of the country from invasion; to educate the people of the country upon such measures of defence as may bo considered ueeessary. In the attainment of these objects the "lleaguo specifically lays it down a.s fts policy that it is not desired to convert . the manhood of the country into ' soldiers, but purely to ensure that evea-y nau who is capable of bearing arms is j given sufficient military training to enable him tl> obey the highest du|iy of I citizemship by being able adequately to I awist to protect his country should the ' occasion arise. In other words, the pbrti form of the league sets forth that the New Zealander is a cjitizeu, and only becomes a soldier wneni he. is required for the defence of his country."

LEAGUE'S ORGANISATION. , The constitution provides for the government ol : the league by * general .council, and the establishment oi as many district councils and branches as ' it may be deenwd desirable to form ia: the interests of the league. District' councils are to be formed at Auckla.nd, ' Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Wa-' rganui, l'almerstosi North, Wellington, ; Noison Blenheim, C'hristchurch, Timaru. Greymouth, Dusedin, and Ifavftrcargill. From the date of its institution, each district council will have power to es-j tablisk branches throughout its district, J and t'j direct propaganda Atfithi'n its ter- j ritory on behalf of the league. Prov;- j siona'l district councils, upon which thet\e j powers have been conferred, wiLI u«, established at preliminary meetings m each of the fourteen centres named. | j The animal subscription for mc.mb.ca-- ( slvp of the league has been fixed at 2s. ! 6d, but as it is held that the national . movement cannot be carried o'm without | 'unavoidable heavy expanses, members 'who have its success at heart will be ' mged to contribute voluntarily to its ' funds nl.id to otlierwiisc assist tfiiDts work. ,

The league proposes to engage in a j general educational campaign, by means , of numerous methods which are detailed in its constitution. This will be maaily by the issue of literature, the -holding oi lectures, deputations to special boduw 'avutfined. and by arousing the mtc-H:-K *nt patriotism of the young. An'other [method proposed is: '"By members of '+he league manifesting a lively personal ! interest in Territorial and Senior Oad,-t units, a'ad (appeprmg jthemselves at parades from time to time; by advancing the general comfort and welfare oi Te7i''tt>rial and Sanior Cadet units, ntnd, oncoi raging parents, relatives, and employers to do likewise." THE GENERAL COUNCIL. The Whole of the members of the genjoral council, including the president. JGentia.l Sir A. H. Russell, are returned I soldiers who were civilians before the v.-f,r ; and have since resumed their civilian status. _