THE NEW AGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 241, 12 October 1933, Page 6

THE NEW AGE.

One reads, not without amusement, that Mr. A. P. Harper, of Wellington, known there as the Welfare. L-eague, has been addressing Rotary in Auckland about our children and their relations with Communism. Mr. Harper blames youth and blames Communism with all the ferocity usual to unreasoning medievalism. Nevertheless, it would appear to philosophical observers that what threatens the morale and future of our unfortunate youn" people is really tho muddled and confused society matured by men of the typo to which Mr. Harper indubitably belongs. These men have made such a mess of tho world that our youth is driven' to seek an outlet in some direction or another; and, if they rush to Communism, who really is to blame? If tho men who are- so ready to eliuffle tho blame would cast the beams out of their own eyes (hey might find that to-day's environment is due to the bearded patriarch and not to tho fresh-faced youth. Forms of government from Communism down to despotism are matters of small importance. What, in truth, is -vital to human ]ife arc factors of spirit and principle. If the spirit is right and tho principle is right Communism might function quite as happily as despotism. If either is malignant, it will function in evil. We are in the midst of evil and depression, and this is due to the errors of tho past. We have been lacking in spirit and principle of the right quality. We are passing the era of greed and approaching the era of service; we are being compelled in that direction—whether we like it or not. Wo are about to enter a new civilisation where, tho right to benefit s'hall be balanced by tlio duty to serve and where discipline shall'have universal application. But, in a world where tho rank and file subscribe to discipline, and the privileged egotists decline their duty, it is not surprising that the barons of greed have succeeded in dislocating the balance of the kingdom. Our vision should be.of St. George; triumphant over the dragon and :iot the octopus triumphant over St. George. Wellington. P. B. FITZHERBEKT.