LEADERSHIP THEME OF TALK ON YOUTH

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 10

LEADERSHIP THEME OF TALK ON YOUTH

Uncertainty and unrest created by social and economic problems made these challenging times when the greatest challenge concerned youth, the president of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association (Mr K. W. Fraser) said in Christchurch on 'Wednesday evening. Mr Fnaser, who comes from Wellington., spoke to the annual meeting of Heritage (Canterbury), an organisation designed to protect the welfare of children whose fathers died in or as a result of the last war. “It is not long since men of World War II thought of themselves as the younger generation. But times have changed—a new generation is coming forward,” Mr Fraser said. “For good or for ill the future is the responsibility of youth. Our concern is to ensure that the responsibility will be accepted to a spirit of integrity throuigh young men and women, enlightened, confident and imbued with honesty and true worthiness, with the ability and willingness to lead.

“Without in any way condoning this seemingly sudden outbreak of delinquency affecting a minority of today’s youth—end it is a small minority—l think we should not be surprised at its emergence,” Mr Fraser said. Delinquency, Mr Fraser said, was a manifestation of the spirit of unrest which held held the world since World War 11. “To some, this may have brought bewilderment a sense of insecurity and frustration .aggravated by inexperience in meeting and overcoming the setbacks of life." These problems needed a full measure of support from all sections of the community if it was to preserve its social standards. “It is by encouraging and fostering inherent leadersHyp that I believe former servicemen an d women can 'best help youth and, at the same time, assist the numerous worthy youth organisations which, in this country, are doing so much toward the creation "of good citizens of the future,” said Mr Fraser.