THEN AND NOW

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 10

THEN AND NOW

THE CHANGING WORLD

"AT THE CROSS-ROADS"

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Words of advice to those leaving school were given by the Hon. W, Downie Stewart, M.1?., at the Scots College prize-giving ceremony "last night. He dealt particularly with changing world conditions. "The world which you are now going to face," he said, "is in many respect* a very different world from that which my generation faced. When we left school the world was full of optimism, buoyancy, and prosperity. It was not a case of men seeking jobs, but all the commercial and business houses were eagerly seeking for boys leaving school; prices were rising, unemployment was jiot a problem, and whether a boy went farming, or into commerce, or into the professions, he had no difficulty in making steady progress if he stuck to his work. In those days it was the common belief that a boy who commenced as a messenger or junior clerk might rise to be a' great capitalist, and the door of opportunity was open. \ It ii true that many fell by the wayside through bad luck, bad health, or bad judgment, but the prizes of life were great and the door of opportunity was open. In short, the race was to tin swift, and the battle to the strong. "A MORE DIFFICULT WORLD." "But you are going out into a more difficult and a rapidly changing world," he continued. "During recent years boys leaving school have found it difficult to get employment; trade has been stagnant, farming unprofitable, and the professions overcrowded. So prolonged has been the depression that the very foundations of the old world as we know it have been shaken, and no one knows at present whether it is possible to patch up ■ the old system, or whether we are moving towards a new order of society. Everywliere one hears talk of planning and organising the nation, or a systematised method of production and distribution. What the .'new world seems to long for is not so much opportunity of the open door as security and the safe livelihood, even though it may impose some lost of liberty. It scenis as if we arc at the cross- ■ roads where' a choice' must be made ■ between the old order, and the new, between a system of society in which every .man battles for himself with the prospect of possibly attaining a rich prize or a modest livelihood, or the risk of failure,' and on the other hand a planned society in which the individual will havo less choice and less opportunity, but more safety-and security. All the new experiments in Europe—whether it .be in Russia, Italy, or Germany, represent this new idea under which everything is organised and controlled; This has net so far proved attractive to the more individualistic British, whether in England or the DoWinions. ' The world is changing so rapidly that perhaps these countries, too, will consider security more important than the risks of liberty'with all its possibilities of success or failure. ■ ' ! What would be the' ultimate outcome no- one could prophesy, continued "Mr. Stewart. The boy'of today had to face a more complex world than those of his gerieratitin had to'face; but-he "'was not pessimistic as to the courage and ability with which they would face it. NEW ZEALAND'S HERITAGE. ''You are going put into life with* great heritage. You are the descendants for the most part of the early;, pioneers in this Dominion," ■:he continued. "When this Dominion was founded in the middle of the last'century the people who came to its shores were not weak, inefficient, or failures, but they were the strong, the adventurous, and self-reliant, and when your fathers or elder brothers went to the "Great War, and the new race bred in' this far distant land was thrown for the first time into contact in comparison with the men of other countries, it was shown that the favourable conditions of this land had bred and developed a race of men of fine physique and of great resourcefulness and self-reliance. The results of the war were, of course, tragic and terrible; the.very flower of my generation was destroyed, and a' gap was torn in ouf ranks that caa never be repaired. But I have in my own. mind no doubt both the' same fine qualities of courage, of comradeship, of self-reliance, and fortitude that were displayed by your fathers and your elder brothers during the war, in spite of all the horrors of the battlefield and the weariness of the campaign, will manifest themselves again in this generation that is now going forward—that you in peace time will display the. eanie qualities in facing the great problems which at present hold the world in thrall, and that through your agency you will do your part in helping New Zealand and the world toward* a better order. A WIDENING CIRCLE. - "You will find that you are faced with a constantly widening circle of duties as citizens of New Zealand. Your first task, of course, is to establish yourselves and find your life's work, and in doi;ig that you have not only to provide for yourselves, but for your families when you settle down. But as that is only your first task, if you are to be good citizens you must take a tvider interest in the. welfare of your immediate circle, whether it be in the w.orld of sport,, or in the church of in the city,.and so on into the wider circle of politics and the destiny of this Dominion. But if you are to live * full life your task is not yet complete, for so far as opportunity offers.you must take an interest in the welfare and destiny of the whole Empire, and seek to understand its problems and what part it is to play in world affairs. But the circle widens still further, and the welfare of all nations has become so interwoven and the peace and prosperity of the world so much depends upon international co-operatiou 'and goodwill that you must know something of the collective movement towards peace through the League of Nations and other similar activities if you are to discharge your' duty to the full."