The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911. A CITIZENS' LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 318, 3 June 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911. A CITIZENS' LEAGUE.

The rebel who gives no quarter and expects none is a greater force in winning reform than the apologist. Uncompromising rebels have moved and exalted aations, but apologetic fighters have uehieved nothing. Now and again in Zealand there spring into being small organisations whose admitted mission is to set the country right. The genesis of these bodies is in rebellion against existing conditions, or, at least, some existing conditions. Many organisations, cradled in modest surroundings, have become extremely powerful and influential, especially where the common good and not the personal aspect has been the goal of attainment. We have read that there has arisen in the capital city a "Citizens' League," of which the president is one of New Zealand's most eminent barristers. As far as one may judge from the reported speeches, the most prominent members are also eminent barristers, and, naturally enough, the chief topics of discussion will be those of greatest interest to the men who discuss tliein. The Citizens' League will watch all social propaganda and movements, keeping adequately informed about them. This is. of course, the duty of all citizens, whether they arc leagued or not, but the League intends, according to its published platform, to take all steps within its power to ensure that laws and regulations shall be formulated, executed and administered by moderate and honorable citizens. There could be no possible use for this plank in the platform if the League had not baseu it on the supposition that laws and rotation? are not now formulated, executed and administered by citizen' -who j»ri moderate nor honoraliU sc t'.ir p'asik is

fin expression of rebellion against citiKens who are allegedly uiuuited to the J offices thoy hold. There is a further assumption that the members of a league are a sort of court with ability to decide as to the type of man competent for public service. The value of such a league depends on its ability to lead public opinion. To lead public opinion it must get very close to the public, and launch its messages outside the confines of a league room. It niust convince the public, which it assumes does not know its own business, that it is a wrong-headed public whose salvation depends on the guidance of a league. To end the evils it says now exist, it has to prescribe cures, and it has to produce the men to effect them. To do these things the league must be political. And possibly its chief object is to produce the men. The test as to the value of its selection must be in the public's acceptance or rejection of them. The test of the League's earnestness will He in the widening of its influence and memmership and its permanency. Many members of the league are extremely busy men who have little time for active propaganda, and it is only by such means public opinion can be influenced. If the Citizens' League is convinced that it has a mission it should take every opportunity of spreading the new gospel, and must not confine its ope'rations to one city. It cannot effect reform by staying at home. It must get out into highways and byway, compelling the people to eomc in so that the House may be full of league nominees, for it has to convince the whole country that changes are necessary and desirable and thatpublic opinion in the meantime is wrong. With the necessary organisation, energy and usefulness, the league might create branches in every town in New Zealand and spread the gospel of emancipation from the housetops. Perhaps the people are ready to accept this gospel, and it would be good for them to know exactly what in the opinion of the league is a "moderate" man. Everybody knows what an "honorable" man is, but the "moderate" man generally means the man who agrees with you. If immoderate and dishonorable men are at present running this country, it is obvious the people should be told who they are in order to put an end to the intolerable position of being governed by them.