The Bay of Plenty Times TUESDAY, APRIL 21st, 1942 NEED FOR INITIATIVE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13622, 21 April 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Times TUESDAY, APRIL 21st, 1942 NEED FOR INITIATIVE

Initiative is something that cannot be strictly defined, and yet each of US possesses the power of it. Of course, not in equal degree, for some have the power of initiative to a greater extent than others, and this inequality conforms to the law of nature, for nature abhors equality. Being endowed with a certain degree ot the power of initiative it is incumbent upon each of us to use this power for personal advantage. This may seem a selfish doctrine, but actually it is not, for a man cannot gain advantage for himself without sharing some of that advantage with others. In nearly all eases it will be found that to secure advantage through the initiative power, the services of others must be invoked, and so those others profit or share in the advantage. As we have said, some have the gift of initiative in a greater degree than others, and such fortunate people force their way to the front, and become business executives, or leaders in the various spheres of human endeavour. Such people are compelled to go forward by the irresistible force of their power of initiative. But many people do not recognise that they possess initiative, or if they do, they are too lazy, or careless about using it, even for their own advantage. This initiative is often referred to as opportunity, and it is within the experience of most people, that some are not at home when opportunity knocks at the front door. They miss the opportunity, or fail to make use of the power of initiative at the moment that they should. Lost opportunities are never recovered. There is, however, an important section in every community in every nation, that is not permitted to display initiative, and that section consists of the fighting forces. This is particularly the case with those in the Army. The soldier in a regiment is just a marionette; he must move just as directed, and must move promptly and without question or hesitation. He dare not exercise whatever power of initiative he may possess, and so we get the word "regimentation" to indicate the suppression of all initiative. But even a soldier gets a chance of displaying initiative, and in the exercise of that power he displays courage and gallantry, and is rewarded, sometimes with the Victoria Cross. But it is not with the desire of posing as a brave man that a soldier does some daring deed. It is the power of initiative that drives him. At an awkward moment, or in a crisis, he sees that something could and should be done, and he forthwith does that something. The airman is called upon to use his power of initiative. Once away in the air he is practically on his own, and if he is to do his duty faithfully and well he must be quick to see his opportunity, and as quick to make use of his powers of initiative. There are more medals and honours going to the air force than to any of the other fighting forces. For a nation to thrive and prosper, all the people making up the nation must at all times use their powers of initiative to the full. But unfortunately the majority of the people'do not comply with this, which is bad enough, but when the legislature deprives the people of their initiative, the position becomes serious. We cannot transfer our powers of initiative to others; it is ours, given to us for use and we must use it. Legislature often compels the people to transfer this initiative to a collective body called the government, and it stands to reason that a government cannot take _ the place of the individual in the exercise of initiative. Government means red tape and a dead level. Often too, the collective body is itself deficient in the power of initiative. When a people are regimented and the right of initiative, even in a limited number of activities, is taken away, the economics of the country deteriorate and the moral fibre of the nation withers. The people must protect their power of initiative just as they would protect their rights and liberties.