NEW ZEALAND LEGION

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18926, 21 April 1933, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND LEGION

MEETING IN WELLINGTON ASMS AND OBJECTS EXLPAINED. raw*) A POLICY OF RE-CONSTRUCTION. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The reasons for the formation of • the New Zealand Legion, together with its aims and objects, were explained at a meeting in the Town Hall last night. The first speaker was Mr Evan Parry, barrister and solicitor, who was followed by Dr. Campbell Begg, president of the Legion. Mr Parry refuted any suggestion that the Legion was an organisation with Fascist ideals, and was emphatic that its aim was to become a rallying ground for everyone who took a serious interest in public affairs. He appealed to citizens to place their trust in the men behind the movement. The present system of local and central government was condemned by Dr. Begg, who said the first step in a policy of re-cohstruction must begin with the people themselves. In order to accomplish this he urged the abolition of the party system of politics and claimed that under the platform of the Legion self-interests would be subordinated to the common good. The aim of the Legion was the election to Parliament of men of integrity and independence. Dr. Begg concluded his address by saying: “It is possible that the Government fears that the organisation of the Legion may become a party in the sense of a fatcion seeking representation in the House. I have said before that such a position is almost impossible, and will be resisted by everybody responsible within the organisation, but if circumstances should be such that this eventuated there will be no difficulty then in civil servants resigning their membprship.”