LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 65

LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION

OTAGO BRANCH. There was a large attendance at a meeting of the council of the Otago branch of the League of Nations Union on Tuesday, the chairman, (the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse) welcoming the presence of three recently elected members, viz., Messrs W. It. Brugh, Lloyd Ross, and Hayes. Correspondence submitted included a letter from Air A. S. Paterson offering to supply any volume on the work of the League of Nations as a contribution to the collection of books of reference at the union’s office. This offer was very gratefully received. The selection was a newlypublished book on disarmament, “ The Problem of the. Twentieth Century,” by David Davies, the secretary being instructed to express the appreciation of the council for the gift. The chairman gave a resume of several lengthy communications from the Dominion Executive, League of Nations Union, in Wellington. All agreed that the president (Dr Gibb) was doing most important extension work by his appeal through the Fanners’ Union for support from the farming community, and also to all ministers through the appropriate central authority. A request was received from Dr Gibb (a request coming also from the British Union to New Zealand) that the problem of world disarmament be brought prominently before the public in view of the need for an alert and informed public opinion before the meeting of the World Disarmament Conference, which was to meet in February, 1932. Already the Otago branch had arranged for speakers to societies in and around Dunedin, and also at Clyde and Balclutha. A sub committee was set up to arrange other meetings in Otago during the winter. General measures of propaganda were then suggested for future use. It was decided to approach the following organisations and invite them to appoint one of their members to the council:—The Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers’ Association, the Amalgamated Engineering and Allied Trades Industrial Union, and the Public Servants’ Association. It was decided to send a message of congratulation to the Southland branch, League of Nations Union, on its excellent educational work in the secondary and primary schools of Southland, whereby some 620 boys and girls sat for examination in the_ structure and aims of the League of Nations, with very satisfactory results.