THE WELFARE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1919, Page 7

THE WELFARE LEAGUE.

PROGRAMME FURTHER EXPLAINED

"THE TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS OF REORGANISATION."

A statement regarding the constitution and aims of the recently-formed New Zealand Welfare League was made in Auckland last week by a gentleman who had assisted to form the league at the conference in Wellington. The delegate said that the conference was attended by Representatives from various centres in the North and South Islands, and was chiefly conspicuous for the surprising earnestness of the delegates, many of whom confessed that, prior to the war, they had taken little or no interest in politics. "We are in now," they said, "not because we are concerned about any political party. What we are concerned about is the welfare of our country, and we see blue ruin ahead unless the country is roused to the necessity of making some attempt to solve the extraordinary problems confronting us."

The constitution of the Welfare League has already been published, and while its first plank is anti-Bolshevism, the league, says the Auckland delegate, intends also to grapple with such important problems as the relations between Capital and Labor, the absorption of our soldiers into civil life, and other matters of soeisl and economic interest. There is also a unanimous desire to deal with the issues arising out of the increased cost of living and the all-absorbing question of profiteering. : The league recognises that these problems are not easy of solution, but they will certainly not be overcome by merely talking about them. "We have repeatedly been asked," the delegate continued, "Who is to be your leader in the House?" Our answer to that question is that at present we I are not concerning ourselves overmuch on this point; our chief object just now is to join up all responsible electors and to select as our Parliamentary candidates good sound men, who will be capable of dealing with the tremendous problems of reorganisation; men who realise the futility of meeting the burden of our huge war debt by a policy, of restricted output, and are not afraid to say so.

"It is no time for disunion on the old party lines. There will be no second ballot at the next poll, and disunion may give the victory to those noisy and unpatriotic extremists who, whilo preaching Bolshevism, unblushingly assert that they are the champions of Labor. Personally I am convinced that sane Labor will not follow leaders of this sort. But some sections of Labor have real grievances, and unless these grievances are handled wisely and sympathetically many men may be driven jinto the arms of the extremists from shear desperation. The Welfare League intends to use its influence to have these grievances removed, and when our organisation is completed we will make an honest attempt to get at the source of the discontent which apparently exists among all classes. "An impression seems to have got abroad that we are connected with a particular party, which is being formed by members of Parliament. I wish to say most emphatically that we have no connection, nor have we any understanding, with any party in the* House. The league will support the man whom it considers the best candidate in every constituency, provided he will conform to our broad national platform. Ahyis the intention of its promo-