The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1917. A LEAGUE OF SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3072, 7 May 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1917. A LEAGUE OF SERVICE

A movement is afoot in New Zealand to-day—a national crusade it has been styled—which, if conducted along the lines laid down by its founders and if accorded the support its s merits warrant, should prove of immense service in shaping the future national life of the Dominion. We refer to the formation of what is known as the Empire Service League. The objects of the League, broadly stated, are to bring home to citizens a more direct and personal recognition of their individual responsibilities in shaping the national life of their country, and to induce citizens to more actively bestir themselves in extending their support and assistance to such movements as make for a closer unity, a better understanding, and a higher sense of duty amongst all classes. The platform of the league is broad' enough to make room for all who' Would desire to see our standard o£ 'life raised to a higher and nobler level; the principles which its members are expected to endorse and practise should appeal to the common sense as well as to the loyalty, of every man and woman who realises that the future of this country depends on what they choose to mako it. What support of those principles means- may be gathered from the following extract 'from the League's statement of its objects:

To unite more thoroughly for the defence of the Empire,, and for the extension of'the freedom we have inherited. To extoud our personal sympathy and active support to nil reasonable efforts to 1 improve tho moral and material conditions of life in this Dominion. lo jironiote tlio clu;er and more en'nit'4 exercise of sympathy and mutual 'trust between employers and employed, i\ml a better understanding of each other's iviius and aspirations. To discourage waste arising from extravagance in living and recreation among all classes. And, above all, to fulfil our most urgent and sacred duty by ensuring that those who are now giving their services and risking their lives for us at the front shall be properly supported in the present crisis, and shall not be sacrificed or abandoned through those of us who remain here in safety selfishly occupying ourselves in promoting our own interests or treasures, forgetful of our duty.

It will be seen "that there is nothing- here that any good citizen, whatever his station of life may be, can object to. On the contrary, all will probably agree that the purpose in view is a most worthy one, and wholly commendable. It is not merely approval of the League's platform and principles, however, that is wanted. If the League is to be the success it deserves to bo and play the part it should play as a stimulating and elevating force in the community it must havo the active support as well as the approval of citizens. In an inspiring paper "What Freedom Means," read before the inaugural meeting of the Empire Service League by Mr. Percival AVitiierby, hon. general secretary, and now published in pamphlet form, much stress is laid upon the dwindling sense of individual responsibility towards their country's welfare which has spread amongst all classes as the result of years of prosperity, improvement in social conditions, and security from foreign aggression. The long period of peace and prosperity which, with minor interruptions, followed Waterloo in 1815, and the fall of Sebastopol in 1855, Mr. AVitherby remarks, conferred inestimable benefits on the United Kingdom and the world-wide Empire, which burn of' it was growing into manhood. But it had this great disadvantage—that as the direct results of the comforts in which wc lived and the privileges which we enjoyed—comforts and privileges won for us and not by us, but by the sacrifices and efforts of our forefathers—not only did our national consciousness become dormant, but the spirit of responsibility became dangerously weak.

A thing which is given to men and women free, the. writer proceeds, a thing which they inherit, a thing which appears to be theirs by right, a thing which Ims cost them nothing, and for which they have made no sacrifice whatever, is very rarely fully appreciated or understood. More often than not it is only when it is in danger of being lost, or is perhaps actually lost, that its true value dawns on their minds, and they learn to treasure and long for it as never before. Take health. How few of us really appreciate it while we have it, but how we yearn for it when it is taken from us.

". . . Take this fair country of New Zealand, or still higher in the scale take the British Umpire, of which we are all members. Do we of the present generation—we and our children—understand and truly appreciate the privilege.* and blessings which wo enjoy? I say we do not or did not until the present war broke out. Why? Because we had nothing or very little lo do with the making of them; because we have inherited them, and not. striven for (hem ourselves.

. . . It was only when we began lei make sacrilices in the light lor Liberty and Justice that we began lo appreciate Iho meaning of "Liberly and Justice awl understand what both entail. It was only whon wo began to suffer sorrow that we began to awake from sleep. It was only when ive began to lose our nearest anil our best that wo began not only to fee! our selfishness, Vut lo realise our responsibility. That is I he truth

of the matter,' and if wo are going to mako a good, start truth wo must have.

It is because this sense of Responsibility has been awakened by the war that there is good hope of the Empire Service League gripping the attention and gaining tho support of citizens at the present time, and building up an organisation which should be capable of educative work likely to elevate our whole social and political outlook. Mil. Witherby's pamphlet comes at a most opportune time. It is calculated to set people thinking; it states frankly and clearly tho unedifying weaknesses we have drifted into, and it shows a way out of them, and points the road to better things. The Empire Service League is one of the means to that end. We wouldcommcnd the pamphlet to the attention of ouy readers. It is not necessary that they should agree with all the writer's views and opinions—though they will probably agree with most of his conclusions— in order to benefit from a perusal of the publication. .'They will at least find it a healthy mental tonic; it will afford them food for thought, and it will'afford justification, _ if such were neededj for the formation of the Empire Service League, about which, unless we are greatly mistaken, the people of the Dominion will ere long hear a great deal.