New Zealand News.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 May 1918, Page 6

New Zealand News.

OBJECT OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. TO BRING WAR TO VICTORIOUS END. WELLINGTON, May 3. Mr Armstrong, president of the National League, has despatched the following telegram to Mr. Goodman, tho provincial representative for Canterbury: " I refer you to the constitution of the Federation's objects: (a) To assist the Government to bring the war to a victorious conclusion, and to secure by constitutional methods the conservation of the general welfare of all soldiers and their dependants in New Zealand; also Clause 14 (providing that "this constitution and rules shall not be altered, amended or added to, except at annual conference") and that there must be thirty days' notice of any such proposed alteration. The recent determinations are, therefore, unconstitutional. I look to you to maintain the hold of the original Christchurch League in accordance with the constitution. Let the extremists hive off and form a new organisation for their purposes if they wish, but the National League will recognise only those standing by the constitution.''

I ■ Mr, Armstrong says that the Na- ' tional Executive are determined to maintain the League's defined policy of loyally assisting the Government to carry on to the fullest extent possible New Zealand's part in the war. He is confident from messages received that the Leagues throughout New Zealand support this attitude, and criticism of the Government for its administration must never be confused with the spirit recently shown by a section in Christchurch. At the first meeting held in Wellington he had stated that the League would be no place for anti-militarists and shirkers and those who had loyally stood by the League in its great national work of securing adequate conditions of service would not for ane moment allow such influence to take control. SINE DIE EXEMPTIONS. WHAT IS TO BE DONE? WELLINGTON, May 3. The Minister of Defence said today: A report is being prepared showing the number of men granted sine die exemptions, and a classification according to industries. He believed the facts would show that unless the public was prepared to sacrifice something for which it was dependent on, certain classes of workers, most of the men now exempt would have to be left in New Zealand. Non-exemptions could not suddenly be drafted into various important skilled occupations. The chairman of the Military Board to-day said, regarding a ease in point, "Our ideas are that all single men must go. It is not right that married men should be torn away from their families and single men allowed to remain at home