PLEA FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 58, 1 December 1934, Page 6

PLEA FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

State’s Hampering

Influence

INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF SIR TRUBY KING’S WORK

Dominion Special Service.

Dunedin. November 30.

The Hon. W. Downie Stewart addressed the annual meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Plunket Society today on the subject of social welfare in a changing world. He drew some telling analogies between the planned economy and effort of the State and the work of volunteer organisations. In the course of his remarks Mr. Stewart said: — “I believe ths work of volunteer organisations does more to weave together and integrate the life of society than we have any conception of, and ■so the broad principle I am seeking to contend for is that insofar as we appear to be committed to the growing extension of national planning and control, it is of the utmost importance that this should be tempered by the continued activity of bodies of citizens banded together to take a personal and human interest in the welfare of their fellow-citizens.

“It was for this reason that about 10 years ago I viewed with some concern the growing tendency of your society to rely more and more on State grants and subsidies, because it seemed to me that the further that process was carried the more your work and activities must pass under the direction and control of State officials. I do not question your claim to such grants; the more your movement became nation-wide the more difficult it became to carry on without Government assistance, but had it been possible I would have preferred to have seen your society entirely self-contained and supported by volunteer subscriptions and entirely master of its own household.’’ Mr. Stewart said he did not think the society could have ever achieved the great results it had achieved had Sir Truby King launched it as a State official, tied and bound by all the restrictions that must be a feature of departmental administration. It was true that such men were rare, but Sir Truby was a striking example of what an immense influence one man could wield if he was that rare combination—a thinker and a man of action, a man who dreams tine dreams and then sets himself to realise them.

“If we could only have such a dynamic personality to cope not merely with out infant welfare but inspiring and compelling our citizens to achieve the highest standards of citizenship in all phases of our national life, there is no limit to what New Zealand could achieve/' Mr. Stewart said, “It is a common criticism of democracy that it constantly tends toward mediocril.. and uniformity. That is why everyone gladly recognises and pays homage to so vivid an Individual personality as Sir Truby King.”