THE NEW PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1933, Page 5

THE NEW PARTY

ITS AIMS DEFINED ORGANISATION OF N.Z. PEOPLE. (Per, Press Association — Coiyyright. ) CHRISTCHURCH, February 22. The aims of the New Zealand Legion as the new political group now being formed is being called by ites promoters, were explained by Docto r Campbell Begg to-day. The initiation of a movement with, a view to uniting all of the resources of the country and of obliterating all sectional interests, is the objectiv e of certain groups forming a community of business and professional interests. Dr Begg said that it was intended to sound the opinion of th e country in order to see whether organisation on these lines is desirable. It was expected that if th e movement proved successful, it would secure a membership of 400,000. No 'distinction is to be made a fi to the membership rules. T-h e proposals so far are tentative. The objects sug-

gested are ; (1) The New Zealand Legion would represent an emergency movement to meet the national crisis, 1 •

(2) Th e Legion aims; at , organising the whole 'of the people flf N«w- Zealand for safety arid security. (3) It proposes by means' of organisation and 'directed voting power, to secure a Government composed, of men and women of integrity, and in. tellect, freed from the trammels of sectional pressure and actuated solely by *t : hp motive of, patriotic effort. The sole aim is a more efficient- Government, both centrally and locally. 'The pledge is loyalty to the King, the Empir e and th e New Zealand constitution.

D, r Begg emphatically denied , any suggestion that the movement was something in the nature of a Fascist one. No action was possible' other than constitutional .action. The ; Legion’s banner was large ( enough to embrace the employer, , the retailer, the farmer, , the farm labourer, the workmam, the relief worker, the housewife and the •' girl who : works.- ' The movement was purely a national one to meet the national crisis.