CONVICT TAINT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 8

CONVICT TAINT.

WOMAN'S CHARGES. LINGERS IN AUSTRALIA. "INFERIORITY" TRACED BACK "Though Australians are the most comfortable .people in the world, they have upon them the taint of mediocrity." This statement was made bv Mrs. H. A. Cti'bis. M.A., at the Historical Society (save the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"). Mrs. Cubis. who is the wife of a housemaster of Scots College, ppoke on "Australian Character in ius Origin and Development."' "The common misfortunes of the conviete brought us much that was good; 1 hut the common degradation they euf- ! fered bred in many a. sad feeling of | inferiority," she said. ! "Hence Australians arc a prey to an enervating feeling of inferiority. <anjceroiiß in iU effect. It destroys individuality and tempts to imitation. "Uneducated Upstarts." "So it is that though our origin and environment have made us individual, we have been foo]i-hlv afra id of our | individuality. "Ju all but our political institution,. I we have had recourse to overseas imitations to carry us along. "One t.-irik of our future is certainly the acquiring of moral courage and ' assurance. "The gold diggers, who pot rich, were often vulgar and flamboyant, but thev were vital, and destroyed class barriers. "The penetration of uneducated up- j -tart* among them deprived Australia : finally of the standards of conduct and : rultiire that go with tradition and | inherited leisure.

Intellect Unhonoured. "Though education has since, been made absolutely and generously free, we have never learned to pay honour to the unrewarded labours of the intellect. nor to rejoice in them. "To achieve a general standard of material comfort we have abandoned nil mental pursuits, education. scientific "investigation and artistic effort. "Our history has I>een too dramatic in a sense. Jt lias made us undisciplined, and it has developed a national lack of restraint and unwillingness 1o take pains. "Wo have no repose. Immediate satis factions ;ire the onlv satisfact hm.-."