THE CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1930, Page 13

THE CHILDREN

A PARTING WORD

FROM GOVERNOR-GENERAL

It was not surprising, in view of tho interest the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) has always shown in the children of the Dominion, that he should have made special reference to their future welfare in the courso of his speech at tho Town Hall last night. "I would like to see the childron of New Zealand, when they grow up," ho said, "preserve that naturalness, that simplicity, that gentleness, that gentlemanliness, which always characterises tho people of New Zealand. J would like to s_co the parents, by precept and by example, bring up their.children to love tho brotherhood, to serve God, and to honour tho King. (Applause.) 1 would like to see them bring up their children to bo sober, serious, God-fear-ing people—brave, tender, and sympathetic. I would like to see them applying the principles of Christianity to all their dealings with their fellowmen. I would like to see them staunch in preserving what I would call the fundamentals of citizenship as handed down to them by their forefathers — thrift, courage, endurance, self-reliance, loyalty, and strong religious feeling. This country is often des< ibed as 'God's Own Country,' and well it may be called that, but remember that we can take iio credit for that. But what we can strive to be is God's own people. (Applause.) Is that a dream? I don't see why it should be. It might well be a reality, and I havo sufficient faith in the peoplo of New Zealand to believe that they will, to use Lord Rosebery's words—shrink from no sacrifice in tho fulfilment of their'mission; be true to thp heritage handed down to them by their forefathers; that they will transmit that heritage to their children, and, plcaso God, to their r'motes*- descendants, enriched and undofiled—this blessed and splendid Dominion."