A FIGHT AHEAD

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 149, 20 March 1933, Page 10

A FIGHT AHEAD

Mr. Forbes’s Philosophy CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS , Bringing Out the Best MARCH OF EDUCATION Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, March 18. , “People should not be downhearted ' because we have a fight ahead of us,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. IV. Forbes, in declaring open the fete at St. Andrew’s College yesterday 1 afternoon. “It is a fight that brings out the best in men,” continued Mr. Forbes. “We have had thirty years of uninterrupted progress and prosperity, and that makes for slackness in our national fibre. Now we have the fight ahead of us, and I am confident we are going to surmount, it.” Mr. Forbes, who expressed his thanks for the opportunity afforded him of opening the fete, said he hoped all would do their best to assist what was a very fine educational institution to get over the rocks of the present time. The present, he said, was a time when it was very, very difficult to make ends meet. His close touch with the difficulties that the Government had in making two and two make four made him sympathetic with those institutions that were facing a similar task. Difference in Outlook. Mr. Forbes said he recognised that the college authorities were making an appeal to all friends of the college, and he was certain they would not appeal in vain. In New Zealand we placed very great score on the education of the young people. It was not a measure of progress that all should be turned out in exactly the same mould. Differing ideals and different outlooks went t'o the making of a strong public opinion, and for that reason he appreciated the value of institutions that gave education with a particular atmosphere. New Zealand, he said, was only a young country. Only about a hundred years had been spent in the task of its development and in that task the men from Scotland had played a notable part. New Zealanders could take a good deal of pride in the development that had taken place. . “As far as our population is concerned,” he continued, “I do not suppose there is such a high level of education in any other part of the world as in New Zealand. It spreads right through every section of the community. In other countries they may have higher forms of education, but I do, not think that in any other part of ’ the world the general standard is so high as in New Zealand.” A Difficult Problem. The world to-day, he said, was faced with the most difficult problem arising from the abundance of the things it produced. It was a problem to which the Government of New Zealand was giving particular attention, and it was trying to assist in every way possible. As a result of the depression a curtailment of expenditure had been necessary. That was perhaps not a bad thing in its way, but it brought about difficulties in other directions. The situation meant that we had to readjust our standards and see that we carried on in a way that would enable this country to make progress. The problem was a difficult one, said Mr. Forbes, and was one that was engaging attention not only in New Zealand, but in evqry part of the world. There was one thing we had to our credit. We had a grand little country —there was no finer in the world—and we had a British stock, and these were things that would stand to us to a greater degree than the advantages which other countries might possess. What was needed to-day was that steadfastness that had always been a characteristic of the British race. Mr. Forbes concluded by' expressing liis best wishes for the success of the fete.