WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1933, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE FAITH OF DR. BEGG

SALVATION OF THE COUNTRY

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, November !, -21. Dr Campbell Begg, the founder and leader of the Ncivv Zealand Legion, ■still holds fast the belief that the Legion even yet may save this country from threatening disaster. “It is my belief, , \,he told the Wellington Divisional Council of the Legion the. other day, “that bold and far seeing statesmen ship in co-operation with th e British Government could not only solve New Zealand’s! problems, but could also give considerable assistance to the most pressing ones of Great Britain itself.” Such statosmenship, he. went on to sav, could be effective only if the parties united and secured the sympathies and co-operation of all or-ganised-interests and thought capable of dealing with wide issues for real national prosperity and security. Here, of course,; is the difficulty that confronts every reformer. If the good

doctor could satisfy the ■ whole coun'try of the. soundness of his evangel, his task would be readily accomplished. But .tilvis' earnest evangelist was

thwarted by his own words. The Hon

E.'A. Ransom, the Minister of Lands, he told his colleagues in effect, had put his huger upon the spot when lie pointed out that prices could not be controlled because the internal consuming power of New Zealand with its present population bore .an inadequate ratio to production. An increased popu. latiion was most desirable, but when it was secured the wages level of. those engaged in industry would have to be such as to give them the • power to consume the necessities of life, as well as the leisure to develop the human as distinct from the purely vocational side. “Rut before tlie increase in population is commenced,” we are told by Dr Begg directly, “the whole of tha present unemployed would have do be absorbed.” This surely would leave the problem in much the same position as it is at the present time. Dr Begg’s scheme, if brought into operation, would not rest entirely upon the shoulders of this Dominion. The British Government it seems,'would take over the service and responsibility of the New Zealand debit domicilled in Great, Britain in addition to the funded Avar debt. The arrangement with -the British-. Government should be on the following basis: —New Zeaalnd to absorb 1,000,000 -British' Nationals in 15 years'; during that period the whole. of jthe interest owed' By the Ngav Zealand--Govbrrimcht in Britain to be } remitted; Ntlw Zealand libt to ; bo expected t<p -receive the : 'Hrst'"batchof immigrants; tiiitii -two years" after.' the agreement had been'■made;“Ulid in the meafithhe - tb‘ ! have the advantage : of •the; sum remitted up 'to' .£8,000,000. Needless' to say Dr Bpgg would.have provision made for the restoration of these sums of money ,at con\’eiiient seasons, but much would depend upon the developments of .the next decade or two.

t" Meanwhile if Dr Begg. would spare time and attention to the politics and politicians of file Dominion he might obtain as much information from the House of- Representatives as he might from one of his own Legion gatherings. Ho is the kind of man who is wanted there and the kind of man many electors would welcome. At present his fault is that of talking over the heads of three-fourths of the members of his audiences, and leaving them rather entertained than convinced. His style is suited closer to the city than to the country audience, and as AVellington at the last general election returned five Labour members with 39,426 vote.v and only one Coalition member with 34,000 votes it looks as if the capital city should be putting itself in order for the general election that may come earlier, than is expected. The Government’s four year Parliament is still in the air. • - ;