WELFARE LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1921, Page 5

WELFARE LEAGUE.

EXPANSION GF MOVEMENT NEW PLYMOUTH BRANCH FORMED. Last night a meeting of New Ply* mouth business men was addressed byj Mr. D. McLaren, organiser for the New Zealand Welfare league, with the object of forming a branch in New Plymouth. Mr. A. Goldwater presided, <)\ur a good attendance. Mr. McLaren said that the Welfare League had been formed for the purpose of seeking to maintain stable government on sound constitutional lines. At the same time they were fighting the revolutionary forces which, unfortunately, were here as well as in other parts of the world, and the average man and woman had no idea of the power of these forces. Three or four years ago if anyone had spoken about a council of action directing a country he would have been thought mad. Yet this had taken place. PRIVATE RIGHTS IN DANGER. Only those who had made a special study of the'matter knew the extent of the danger. In Australia a P*ppr was published called Russia. It was purely a Soviet publication, and was run by accredited representatives of the Russian Soviet Government. It cir-* culated both in Australia and New Zealand, and there were copies in the League’s office in Wellington. There was another paper published in New Zealand and very extensively read, and if the issues were followed up it would be found that everything that could possibly be raked up that would tell against the Home Country dr the British Empire is used for that purpose. The revolution that was aimed at was the abolishing of all private rights and property This affected not only those who had property, but the working man who may desire to have a home and make his conditions more stable. The League had been following up the movement for some time, and in spreading education they had put forward what Russia actually was, and had never taken the line of using abusive terms or exaggeration. A good many of the New Zealand Labor Party with leanings towards Bolshevism had denounced the League for unfairness, hut its criticism had been proved to be absolutely sound. RECORD IN PROPAGANDA. The League arose shortly after the armistice. Many leading people came to the conclusion that there was going to be a time of great trial, and unless reconstructive work was done they were going to suffer very seriously. There was a good deal of prejudice against the League at first, and there were a good many illusions. The League decided to definitely take the course of minding it* own business. It did not tie itself to section creeds as the Bible in schools or liquor. That was not their business. He believed that a very large measure-of the bias against it had now been broken down. They were sending articles twice, and sometimes three times a week to 30 to 40 papers, and a special article had been sent to as many as 73 papers. It did not matter to them what the paper_was so long as the people were given an opportunity to read the matter and judge for themselves. Never in the history of this country had any organisation carried on such an extensive propaganda through the Press. The arfeles meant that they were constantly addressing a very large audience throughout the country. They were not. the production of one individual. They had men in the League with the most expert knowledge who, if they did not write the articles, supplied them with the information necessary. INDUSTRIAL MEDIATION. The League had done a good deal ol industrial mediation, and over and over again by meeting both sides, first one and then the other, they had been able to dissipate misunderstanding and effect settlements. If only one industrial trouble was stopped thousands of pounds were saved to the community. The League had been emphasising that there was a third party to every dispute—the general public. The existence of the third party had been denied bj’ Labor leaders, and Mr. Arbuckle had said that all men were either workers or employers, but this was mere the- - orising. Coal minors had come to their ffice and had said 'that they were tired of the perpetual trouble at the mines, and were taking other employment i where there would be more stability, 'rhe Coal Mineiw’ Union had asked for j fair play and had protested against vici Timisation, but the League had, in an open letter, pointed out that the minerj were themselves victimising the people of tjie country. This argument was a very strong one. and there was no shadow of doubt that it was upheld by many of the miners, many of whom were absolutely against the go slow i' policy. A bureau of information had | been' built up by the League which had ' been found most useful, and had greatly impressed business men who had looked into the system A BRANCH FORMED. Th®y now wanted, in addition to what had been done, to establish branches throughout New Zealand, with a district committee or executive for each province linked up with the national executive. Mr. McLaren asked the meeting to form a branch, and also requested that a delegate be sent to the Wellington conference on the 17th of next month. At the conclusion of the address it was decided to form a branch of the League. Mr. Goldwater was appointed chairman and Mr. G. R. Weir, secretary. The secretary was delegated to attend the conference in Wellington on the 17th inM. A vote of thanks to the speaker was carried.