Awake! Arouse yourselves! Arise! : the nation's peril, New Zealand's need : a burning message

Greene, Alfred, A. Greene, E.F. Jones, Wellington, N.Z., 1929

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Title: Awake! Arouse yourselves! Arise! : the nation's peril, New Zealand's need : a burning message

Author: Greene, Alfred

Published: A. Greene, E.F. Jones, Wellington, N.Z., 1929

I "Awake! Arouse Yourselves!

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''Awake! Arouse Yourselves! Arise!"

The Nation's Peril New Zealand's Need

A burning message from

BRIGADIER ALFRED GREENE, M.C.,

Resident Secretary, Salvation Army Immigration

Department, Wellington.

December, 1929-

Brigadier ALFRED GREENE, M.C.

FOREWORD

iiig recently returned from a business visit to id, and in the course of which it was my duty n I over most of the United Kingdom, I per- ■ observed some of the appalling conditi ms revail and the dire straits in which many population are to be found, and as a i ml is moved to make this appeal to the people w Zealand. Great Britain is not in any way ent, but is suffering from the aftermatl years, 1914-1918 A.D., a period of Satanically s'h and blood. The Motherire a large part of our burden and her "Greathas since succoured many a smaller and unnate neighbour by heaping upon herseli their burdens. Recuperative powers in action are air evidenced, but should not we show our gratitude by sharing a portion of hi r -population, at unci- her burden and our salvati n? Consider herein the advantage and stimulus to all occupations with the advent of fresh virile m; nh d and womanhood, and the means of satisfacto; y absorption.

A.G.

HESITATION IS STAGNATION, PURPOSE IN ACTION IS ADVANCE

It is an axiom that immediate action without thoughtful consideration of the after affect upon the subject of th( i upon the environ- ' into which he is thrown, is disastrous and an ' wa>te. All national and international - recognise this truth and endeavour, with . or less success, to foresee the result of proI legislation. But it is no less a truth that in the exigencies of the battle of life, there is often -ion for dra.-tic action regardless of immediate equence. It is then that statesmanship and organisation are tested, and either scrapped or brought to the highest state of efficiency in bringif the eruptive force, order, stability and ipment. In such work, administration has the assistance of that quality of untold value, mankind's capacity for re-adjustment.

A WORLD MARCHING IS PROGRESS. DIVINE PLAN BEING FULFILLED. VISION AND ORDER. FREEDOM AND SWEETNESS.

History, that background of our present standards and record of the world's experience, furnishes the enquirer with numerous instai these force.- being at work for the betterment the circumstances of the peoples of the vvorl large. Whether this development be consideri from the angle of the emancipation of peoples from re!:, ;otry to liberty in Divine wors from the angle of the transmigra ion of masses of peoples from Central to the

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continent, as the story of the liately preceding the .Middle Ages ' here was disturbance both the old order and the new : y that the net result was not gain i individual in spheres both old and new. in J gain from the development of fresh red its distribution and also from the broadlerance of individual ge and freedom ?

important factor in the reaching of 1 d of life was the God implanted th '.dividual to assimilate, tinder wise and judicious control, the discipline of the iditii ; 3, and the using of it for .-till greater iment. lit effect the .-a: the ord of the development of the American contiinclllding the n from the British now the United States of Ame:lt. the world at large is a better which to live, and as statesmanship with its pac ,\ for anticipation and aptitude For sping opportunity pn always rememing the foundation to hi' the individual recogtion ,'i the privilege of S. ; God with Christ ns, so will mankind continue irosper and develop. To maintain that progress, organisation with elasticity must follow hard after tin ion.

BRITAIN'S TRUST-WILL SHE FAIL? INVESTMENT DEMANDS USAGE. UNOCCUPANCY IS NOT ECONOMIC. RE-ADJUSTMENT INVOLVES PERPLEXITIES

In the centuries past, the nations have pn northward, they have encircled the globe, and today the trend is southward to the Island continent

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and it- neighbouring lands fit for the habitation of men. Eager eyes oi ever} race are searching the horizon and speculating on the possibilities of advance. In the pi these lands have me under the leadership ui the Anglo-Saxon race with its capacity for expl iration, development, tenacity u\ pui ■ if maintenance. The lands tire the heritage of this race, but a heritage 's - till the conditions of the original gift. 1 he conditi are in the main, those which have reference to the recognition of the Creator wdio bestowed the heritaj

Australia and Xcw Zealand need populating with tin 1 daughters of Britain, in whose veins the blood ol those hardy adventurers who a century brave the difficulties this is done both from the he relatives left in the Homeland. and the descendants of the pioneers themselves, the -\r n race has no moral right to hold the land, and of physical right there will he none against the overwhelming force of the slowly but surely stirring Eastern pei ip

To . - desirable and most m sary development of Empire building, if we would maintain our position of world leadership in ever) branch of constructive thought and action, it is imperative that drastic action be taken immediately and the problem dealt with now. The need is urgent. For the benefit of our brothers and sisters in the Homeland take no present thought of the consequences. Great Britain groans with the burden of her excess population—men and women with their children, who have all the right of the Colonial born (and these are parented by sons and daughters of the Homeland) to the sunshine and frcof the great open spaces of the unoccupied I Shall the selfishnesses of our heart-, those in

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authority and laymen, he the dominant factors in ? "It will mean disturbance," someone -ays. course it will, hut there are three factor.- at the Dominion'- command which will quell the disturbance, and out of the seeming chaos bring the order ami peaceful progression which are the de-ire oi every well balanced pers<

DIFFICULTIES IN SOLUTION-VISION AND ACTION-BARRIERS OF SELFISHNESS ARE DEMOLISHED-LIFE IS BARTERMEANS OF EXCHANGE AVAILABLE.

What are these factors ?

Briefly: (1) Statesmanship.

I_' i Financial r with bus like eci momy in administral

(3) Social org; and practical religious application without which man'.- development is incomplete.

There are men in England and Xc bring the subject directh with capacity, vision and courage to attack the enemy which has a stranglehold on the younj of the Dominion and the Old Land struggling expression. The selfish ■:" human-kind, the lust fur personal power, evidenced in manv high and low place-, sicken the hearts of main- i most capable and disgust them to the point i concern. Thank Cod all in authority are not possessed with this basi purpose, but let us have more men and women possessed with single and undivided hearts given the opportunity to : the nation. Herein is a call to tin masses nise that "righteousness exalteth a nation" and to use their power- accordingly. Who shall maki first move? The Dominion must. Her n< apparent, for the country cannot de\ ossi-

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bilities without people—no nation succeds on primary industries alone—-and the Britons are longing the i ipportunit) .

hj may be said here that finance is the difficult)', but the fact remains that every year the British Government is laying asid« millions of pounds rling for Empire development in the transDominions her surplus peoples and thus far only a minute fraction of this vast sum n spent. Is it that the Dominion has not :ent offer to the Home Government to make worth while the investment of a fair proportion of this money? There has I nference with 1- ernment gentlemen, but no action. Let the Dominion invite her kith and kin m overseas to come and dwell within her borders and thi will come with them. The new arrivals will make their own demand for the supif the necessities of life, and industry, both nent and manufactures, will develop 1. ddiis will be expressed in housclothing and the growing of foodiffs, all r the profitable employment of There is initiative in many hea r half a chance for expressi would be in the hands of large hearted, bul affairs, who would be 'fare of every section of the numerically increased and pr community.

DEVELOPMENT ENTAILS SUSTAINED ACTION-SPIRIT, MIND AND HEART THE MEASURE OF THE MAN-DIVINE QUAL-ITIES-AVENUES OF SERVICE-MEANS OF SUSTENANCE-ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Men of vision having tack' and set the movement on foot, followed I oi equal capacity engaged in the already referred to eco-

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nomic administration in settlement, the next concern is the growth of men and women within themthat development of mind and hear: with lilities of expansion in the comprelife's real purposes. In our fair hand e men and women representing organisa■nsideration in life is not maial (but not belittling- this important factor—it ■plied) and who are capable of co-operat-i first agencies in the final settling disturbance created by the upheaval in the i llie much-needed populace. Working on a nthropic basis, these organisations may nal, Social or Religious. It is through id the avenues of service through they work that the grosser ex] of and nobility of character and personal highly expressed .and the character reflected.

Tgani r agencies have and almost unqualified success m the standpoint Iding. I )isinti rested service in dir : factor and the key ' : is. Valuable vvorl n performed and rformed by "Flock i Church of England, and other Churches, including the Salvation \rrny I tion Department. : to mention the State Department itsel-f. Cannot all of these force- be obliged to extend themselves greater effort because of the pressing need of settling in society the new arrivals? The capacity and willingness for action is evidenced on all sides. I here is no Mare of trump the car: enquirer will find throughout the Dominion an inrral part of the national lif planted from overseas, rising to the responsibilities of citizi ship.

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Consider for a moment the work of the Salvation Army Immigration Department, lirect to London, and yet working- in harmony with the Dominion control. To date, apart from families in the earlier years of operation, seven hundred and three British youths have arrived in the Dominion, and after suitable training al the Putaruru Instructional Farm, or previoush at Hadleigh Farm Colony, Essex, En jland, each placed in an approved situation. The latest computation is that ninety per centum of these young men. and men they are. the first hatch having arrived over five year- -till engaged in farm work and developing into the type of manhood which has always been the "backbone" of the country. The Departmental Inspection Officers visit the lad the farms at regular intervals and report to the Resident Secretary on the progress marie. Problems are dealt with and questions answered, and besides tl us correspondence almost every day of the v to the confidence of the lads in the Department, and in return the Departments concern for each individual ward. Even now preparati being mad the summer tour of inspection and the tram The lads' finance is carefully supervised and invested for them, and current interest paid to the individ unt.

The world-wide outlook ;" ; '. ■ Army in the uplift of mankind, clarifj - its its capai and strengthens it- determination to earn [eaven-sei in the more than eighty countries of the world.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE CHALLENGE.

Kindred Organisations :rf rming similar tasks with credit, and such eff rm the

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heart of every man and woman, and stir him or her to personal effort in the great crusade against evil, and for the granting of equal opportunity for all to make good in this life which is transient but real. The need is apparent, and the challenge rings out to the world, and God grant that there may be an individual, a national and even an international response to that challenge for the sake of suffering and obscured humanity.

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