THE SANE VIEW.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1921, Page 6

THE SANE VIEW.

COMBATTING EXTREMIST PROPAGANDA. WELFARE LEAGUE’S EFFORTS. The first of a series of monthly luncheons to be held by ’business people in New Plymouth, took place yesterday. The function on this occasion was under the auspices of the New Zealand Welfare League. There was an attendance of about sixty, and the gathering was addressed by Mr. P. M. Curnow (Dominion organiser), who reviewed'the operation© of the League. In introducing Mr. Curnow, Mr. A. Goldwater, who presided, expressed pleasure at the good attendance, which, he said, augured, well for the success of future luncheons. The idea of holding such functions, he said, was largely adopted in Canada and America by business people for discussing various topics.

Mr. Curnow’s address was an interesting resume of the League’s work and progress. He said the organisation was initiated in Wellington in 1919 as a result of the conditions which were found to be existing at that time. He recalled that at the end of the war the country was confronted with many economic and social Problems; it was also divided into two parties, and various other sections and creeds were cropping up. Because of these factors it was thought necessary to secure the formation of some body that would combine the whole of the public regardless of party, section, or creed, for the benefit of the whole Dominion. Mr. Curnow remarked that there were a number of instances of agreements being concluded in secret between two sections of employers and labor without the public interests being studied. The Welfare League had set out to oppose these practices, neither did it hold with the extreme capitalist or extreme laborite.

’ EXPANSION OF THE LEAGUE. The league started well. There were branelms instituted in every part of the Dominion, but gradually they faded away. Auckland became nearly moribund, Christchurch died, and the Dunedin branch also went out of existence. The Wellington branch, under Mr. Skerrett’s guidance, alone remained to carry on, and ultimately they met with the success and recognition they deserved: the Dunedin , branch was re-started; Auckland was a leading factor; and the. league was also doing considerable work in Taranaki. First and most important of the work was in the propaganda dealing with the revolutionary labor element. There was on]}’ one way to' beat them, and that was to put sane, practical views before the public, showing them the rights of the question, and not allowing the league’s statement to be influenced by any Other issues. He acknowledged the league’s indebtedness to the Press of the Dominion for the assistance given in connection with the publication of articles. Mr. Curnow said the league had the, advantage of having a man like Mr. McLaren, who had been through the very worst phases of the labor trouble in England and New Zealand. They were also trying to fulfill another role by acting as mediator in labor disputes. During the last year in Wellington, on five occasions, secretaries of unions who were involved in disputes approached the league headquarters, and, with Messrs. Harper and McLaren, respectively acting as representatives for the employers and union, working agreements had been arrived at. Thus, in five cases, the league had saved what would probably have resulted in strikes.

The league had had to attack the revolutionary element in another direction. They had met them in the elections, both local and general. The first year the league’s efforts resulted in clearing the way in five seats, and in each of these cases the Red Feds lost. In Auckland, where the organisation had not got a proper footing, their efforts were unsuccessful, and the revolutionaries won. If these efforts could be continued it would mean that the extremists would have little chance. The Red Feds had also turned their attention to municipal politics, and Mr. Curnow said he wanted his hearers io realise that this party was not a labor party. It was a party of theorists and others—communists, Bolshevists, Guild Socialists, Marxian supporters, and people, bent on upsetting the whole of the present system and seeing what came out of it. They cared nothing for labor. A programme was put forward which sounded very nice, but actually would moan that rates would run up to 20s in the £. People laughed at the idea, but there was no nonsense, extravagance, or foolishness about it. for if the supporters of it could by any means secure the enforcement of these rates it would ruin capital altogether, and they would have done more to ruin the present system than in any other way if they had got into power. The league, however, secured the return of seventeen out of its nineteen candidates in Auckland, and the result was similar in Dunedin. In Christchurch, where there was no organisation of the league, the opposition got their six candidates in. THE UNION QUESTION. Another platform of the league was the employment of permanent labor on the wharves. They also advocated the abolition of preference to unionists. Previously this had been used to prevent a man from taking benefits for which he did not pay. Unfortunately the unions had departed from their functions and they had become political bodies. The anion was being used to get men to contribute towards a movement with which they were not in sympathy. He did not want anybody to think that he was advocating doing away with trade unions; they were essential for the protection of the worker; the man that was aimed at was the extremist. Before ference to unionists came there was a time when the unions exercised a deal of influence for good, and all that was wanted now was to cut away the cancerous growth and leave the good sound union behind. Business men could support the league’s platform by joining the local branch.

'Sir. Curnow was roundly applauded at the conclusion of his address. Mr. E. P. Webster said there was no doubt the league represented the great third party, the moderate element, and in giving to the league the support it deserved, business men would help New Zealand as a whole. If the League was instrumental in bringing about a better feeling between employer and employee, and bringing them together to their mutual benefit, it would have achieved a splendid object. He was glad to see that the Minister of Education was going to arrange for the teaching in the schools of loyalty and love of’Empire. It was a splendid movement and the subject was one that should have been in the curriculum long ago. In expressing appreciation of Mr. Curnow’s address, Mr. C. H. Weston said

ihat as a nation we had not yet grasped the idea of rhe efiica< y of propaganda as the Germans had done. it was only another method of teaching by advertisement. and the Germans had reached a high stage of perfection. From the child at school upwards the whole nation was taught 1 y this means.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Curnow was proposed bp Mr. J. H. Quiiliam, who said there could be no doubt as to the necessity for an organisation in this country to combat the small but noisy section whose objective was to smash all existing institutions. He remarked that it was very noteworthy that none of the revolutionary section showed any intention of migrating to Russia, where they could enjoy all the advantages of the system they advocated. In speaking of the need for taking strong stand against the section mentioned. Mr. Quilliam said many people thought the revolutionaries should be allowed to go unheeded, but tolerance could be carried too far. They should show plainly that there was no room in this country for the man who preferred the red flag to the Union Jack, and indicate, to the Government that they had the great mass of the people behind them in any action taken.

The vote of thanks was carried by hearty acclamation, and was briefly acknowledged by Mr. Curnow.